Gong revealed that Rumsfeld turned down a suggestion from the Chinese government that he should deliver a speech at Peking University when he visited China in 2005. Instead, the US politician insisted on calling at the Party school.

He had good reason. Unlike regular educational institutions, the Central Party School gathers together the country's rising leaders. Since its foundation in Jiangxi province in 1933, the institution, which moved to the capital in 1949, has trained more than 60,000 officials through a range of programs.

About the broadcaster:

CJ Henderson is a foreign expert for China Daily's online culture department. CJ is a graduate of the University of Sydney where she completed a Bachelors degree in Media and Communications, Government and International Relations, and American Studies. CJ has four years of experience working across media platforms, including work for 21st Century Newspapers in Beijing, and a variety of media in Australia and the US.

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