On May 27, President Prof. CHEN Yulu met with visiting US senator Mr. Ben Cardin. Visitors accompanying Mr. Cardin were: senatorial senior diplomatic advisor Algene Sajery, Jonathan Turley, senatorial assistant Cameron Lindsey, official of political dep. of US embassy to China and SONG Xiaotao, cultural attache of US embassy to China. President CHEN first extended his warmest welcome to the visiting guests. He then told Mr. Cardin that RUC had already established university-level relationships with 26 universities in the US, including Yale University, Columbia University, University of Chicago and Cornell University and etc. He also introduced to the guests that RUC ranked NO.3 in the latest discipline evaluation carried out by the Ministry of Education with 9 first-tier disciplines ranking NO.1. RUC focuses on humanities and social sciences. At last, he expressed that RUC would try its best to become more internationalized and narrow the gap between world-renowned universities and itself. Mr. Cardin said that Sino-US relationship is one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world now. The two countries need to strengthen mutual trust in the military and political fronts through further communication. He told Renmin side that the main goal of his visit to China this time was to help two countries to know each other better through more dialogues. He also expressed his gratitude for RUC for its strenuous efforts in facilitating exchanges between US and Chinese students. Vice President for International Affairs and Dean of Renmin Business School Prof. YI Zhihong, Director of International Office Prof. TANG Zhong, and Deputy Director of International Office Ms. CHENG Xin attended the meeting. Following the meeting, MR. Cardin had an in-depth talk with  representative students and teaching staff. Prof. Li Qingsi moderated the session. Many students raised heated-discussed questions in the field of international relationships, such as why the US shifted its strategy to Asia, US stance on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and how to strike a balance between international law and sovereignty. Mr. Cardin answered all the questions in details. He held the opinion that a peaceful Asia would help US realize its interests. US hopes to see a thriving and prosperous Asia because only when all the countries’ economy developed could American products be sold to a much bigger market. As for the North Korean issue, he believed that the people of North Korea had the right to decide their own fate and US wouldn’t interfere in the domestic issues of other countries. However, he insisted that North Korea abide by basic international standard when formulating its own policies, like guaranteeing its people’s basic survival rights, sticking to the non-proliferation agreement, etc. Finally, he spoke highly of China’s economic reform after its opening-up strategy was introduced in 1978.