Former US President Jimmy Carter(4th from L) and a group of Chinese journalists. [Photo: Xinhua]

 He was the 39th man elected to lead his country. And though he only spent one term in office, during his tenure as the President of the United States, Jimmy Carter bore witness to many historical events. Here in China, Carter's Presidency is remembered as a time when this country turned the corner. In just over three weeks time, the United States and China will celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, signed into existence by then-President Carter and Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping.

Ni hao, you're listening to  People In the Know, your window into the world around you, online at crienglish.com here on China Radio International. In this edition of the show we'll be airing a special program, hearing from former President Jimmy Carter, who recently addressed a group of Chinese journalists, which included a reporter from CRI. So let's get started.

(Music)

Recently former US President Jimmy Carter took questions from Chinese reporters in Atlanta, talking about the impending 30 year anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. Among the reporters present was CRI's Wang Shanshan who has provided us with an overview of the questions put to Mr. Carter and what he had to say.

(Q&A section one)

We're going to take a short break, and come back and hear more from former US President Jimmy Carter's recent news conference with Chinese journalists.

Former President Jimmy Carter addressed a group of Chinese journalists which included CRI washington correspondent Wang Shanshan(1st from R). [Photo: Xinhua]

Ni hao, you're listening to  People In the Know, your window into the world around you, online at crienglish.com here on China Radio International. I'm Paul James in Beijing. With the 30 year anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the United States coming up in just over three weeks, former US President Jimmy Carter took some time with Chinese journalists in Washington to talk about his role in the establishment of official ties between the two countries. Among the journalists present was CRI's Wang Shanshan, who will continue now to provide us with an overview of the questions put to Mr. Carter and his responses.

(Q&A section two)

And as well as answering questions from Chinese reporters, former President Carter also delivered a speech, outlining his thoughts on the 30th anniversary of Sino-US diplomatic relations. People In the Know's Executive Director Zhao Yang gives us the details of what Mr. Carter had to say.

(Zhao Yang Report)

And with that we close out this edition of  People In the Know, online at crienglish.com here on China Radio International. There can be little doubt that without the bold diplomatic moves by former US President Jimmy Carter and then Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping nearly 30 years ago, the global political and economic landscape would be much different today. Questions or comments for us can be sent to people@cri.com.cn. For Executive Director Zhao Yang and Producers Chen Mo and Xu Yang and CRI's Washington correspondent Wang Shanshan, I'm Paul James in Beijing. We'll talk to you tomorrow.