002.Benjamin Franklin and China

2006 marks the 300th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). In order to order to celebrate this great event, the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission was established by an Act of Congress in 2002 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin’s birth in 2006. George W. Bush, the President of the United States, served as Honorary Chairman and made six appointments to the Commission. Leaders of Congress appointed another eight of the fifteen members.

Thanks to the official website of the commission, we can enjoy Dr. Wang's paper, "Benjamin Franklin and China - A Survey of Benjamin Franklin's Efforts at Drawing Positive Elements from Chinese Civilization during the Formative Age of the United States" (PDF)