Jianli Yang

Dr. Jianli (Doc) Yang is a world renowned scholar, human rights activist, and architect and leader for China’s democracy. He was a participant of the 1989 Tiananmen democracy movement and a political prisoner of China (2002-2007). Dr. Yang helped found and lead several important organizations including Citizen PowerInitiatives for China and Foundation for China in the 21st Century. He has created and organized annual Interethnic/Interfaith Leadership Conferences for more than two decades and edited the online publication Yibao since 2001. He co-authored a Democratic Constitution for China (1993) and co-Chaired The Geneva Internet Freedom Declaration (2010). A recipient of multiple international awards including Harvard Alumni Achievement Award, UN Watch Human Rights Award and Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom, Dr.Yang has been elected Top 100 Chinese Public Intellectuals of 2009 onward. Dr. Yang represented Liu Xiaobo at the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony. Dr. Yang holds a Ph.D. of Mathematics from University of California at Berkeley and a Ph.D. of Political Economy from Harvard University. He is a frequent public speaker on various world forums and contributor to various international magazines on topics ranging from human rights in China, China’s democratization, China’s politics, ethnic relations in the PRC, cross-strait relations, and on U.S.-China policies.