HOUSTON, April 9, 2007 - A solo concert to commemorate the 35th anniversary of former President Richard Nixon's historic visit to China and the resulting signing of the Sino-U.S. Shanghai Joint Communiqué (February 28, 1972) will be co-hosted by the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China, the United States and China Foundation (USCF) and the Chinese Conservatory of Music on Monday, April 30, at 7:00 PM at Cullen Hall on the campus of the University of Houston. The soloist will be Julia Zhu, Artistic Director of USCF.

Ms. Zhu is a Chinese soprano who has won numerous awards and gained wide recognition in both the U.S. and China (MP3 file attached). She is currently enrolled as a graduate student at the Chinese Conservatory of Music in Beijing. Her Chinese vocal teacher, Professor Jin Tie Lin, President of the Conservatory, is China's most famous vocal educator. Ms. Zhu is also studying under Ms. Liang Ning, an acclaimed western opera performer (mezzo -soprano) who is also Special Guest Director of the Vocal Department of the conservatory.

Former U.S. President George Bush met Ms. Zhu at The People's Hall in Beijing in 2004. During their meeting, the former U.S. president encouraged her hold a solo concert in his hometown of Houston, Texas. In addition, Ms. Zhu has been encouraged by Chai Zemin, the first Chinese Ambassador to the United States who is presently Honorary Chairman of U.S.-China Foundation, Chinese Foreign Minister, Li Zhaoxing, and many other leaders and celebrities in both the U.S. and China.

The concert is being called the Redwood Concert in tribute to the gift of a small Redwood tree given to the Chinese government by U.S. officials 35 years ago during their historic visit to China. The tree was planted on the edge of China's beautiful West Lake and now stands over 14 meters high with thick green leaves. Tens of thousands of redwood trees from this initial planting are now growing in many cities all across China. The redwood tree has become a symbol of Sino-U.S. friendship. Today, that friendship continues to grow, thanks to the solid foundation laid down by former Chinese Premier Zhou En Lai, former President Richard Nixon, former U.S. Secretary of State, Dr. Henry Kissinger and others.

The United States and China Foundation (www.uscfinfo.org) is a non-profit organization that has been engaged in the promotion of friendship and understanding between America and China since its inception, focusing passionately on the mission of bridging the hearts of American and Chinese people.

For ticket information for the Redwood Concert, please call (713) 586-9158, (713) 914-9412 or email uscfbj@uscfinfo.org.