At the 16th session of the General Assembly in September 1961, the United States, in collusion with Japan, Australia, Colombia and Italy, submitted a five-nation proposal to the General Assembly on what was called an "important issue": any proposal to admit the representatives of the People's Republic of China as an "important issue" must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the member states of the United Nations General Assembly to be valid.
Pictured: The Kennedy administration concocts a "significant issues" bill at the United Nations
Under the manipulation of the US government, the "important issues" bill was voted through the UN General Assembly, following the "postponement of deliberations", becoming a new "roadblock" on China's way back to the UN.
In the face of stubborn obstruction by the Us-led Western camp, the Chinese government must uphold both principles and seek breakthroughs. What is the way forward? How can we strive for our own development space in the intricate international environment?
01
In December 1963, Premier Zhou Enlai, accompanied by Vice Premier Chen Yi, led a delegation of the Government of the People's Republic of China on a friendly visit to African countries that had successively broken away from colonial yoke.
Pictured: Premier Zhou Enlai visited Africa from late 1963 to early 1964
On January 9, 1964, the Chinese delegation was invited to visit Tunisia, which had not yet established diplomatic relations with China. In order to welcome the Chinese guests, President Bourguiba held a grand banquet.
But it was at this banquet that an unexpected situation occurred.
Photo: Bourguiba
In his welcome speech, President Bourguiba hinted that friction between China and Turkistan may arise because of different social systems, and the atmosphere at the banquet became tense.
Professor Su Hao, Department of Diplomacy, China Foreign Affairs University:
At that time, Premier Zhou Enlai responded very skillfully at the scene, China and Tunisia may have different social systems, but we can seek common ground while reserving differences, the interests of the whole country are common, we can still seek cooperation, seek better positive mutual understanding and support.
Premier Zhou Enlai's sincere and dignified speech suddenly relaxed the atmosphere at the banquet, and through his speech, people began to put aside prejudices and re-understand China. On January 10, 1964, China and Turkistan issued a joint communiqué officially announcing the establishment of diplomatic relations.
02
As the Chinese delegation leaves Tunisia to continue its visit, they will face an unpredictable journey.
A week earlier, the Chinese delegation had received shocking news that Ghanaian President Nkrumah had been murdered.
Pictured: Nkrumah
Although the President himself suffered only minor injuries, the situation in Ghana is tense.
The Chinese delegation held urgent consultations: to go or not to go?
Premier Zhou Enlai proposed that the visit should continue as originally planned. He believes that the visit should not be cancelled because Ghana has encountered temporary difficulties, and that only then can we show that we are truly friendly.
On the evening of the arrival of the Chinese delegation, President Nkrumah received Zhou Enlai and his party in his temporary, heavily guarded residence. People were surprised to find that Nkrumah was wearing a Zhongshan suit.
Pan Jingguo, researcher of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee:
This is a set of Zhongshan suits given to him by Premier Zhou Enlai when he visited China. He wanted to dress up to show his respect for Premier Zhou Enlai, and at the same time, the first thing he said when he came up, he said, Welcome to come, and appreciate that you can come, which is a great support for him!
It was during his time in Ghana that Zhou Enlai spoke to Nkrukma about the Eight Principles of the Chinese Government's Foreign Economic and Technical Assistance, which had a profound impact on China-Africa relations.
Chart: Eight Principles of the Chinese Government's Foreign Economic and Technical Assistance
Communist Party history expert Zhang Baijia:
These eight principles are everywhere for the consideration of recipient countries, and China's aid is absolutely unconditional and absolutely does not require any privileges. Therefore, after these eight principles are put forward, it is very conducive to China's expansion of influence in African countries.
Zhou Enlai, Chen Yi, and others visited ten African countries from the end of 1963 to the beginning of 1964, which brought China closer to African countries, enhanced cooperation and mutual trust between China and African countries, and opened up a new situation in China's foreign exchanges.
03
At the Central Work Conference in September 1963, Chairman Mao Zedong said meaningfully: Between the United States and the Soviet Union, there are two "middle zones", one is the vast number of Asian, African and Latin American countries, and the other is Europe. In Europe, he specifically mentioned the European Community represented by Charles de Gaulle.
There was a gap between China and France because of China's support for Algeria against French colonial rule. But with France's recognition of Algeria's independence in 1962, this cleared the last obstacle to the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and China. Therefore, the french president de Gaulle at the time asked former Prime Minister Edgar Fuer to go to China with his handwritten letter to communicate the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. This letter knocked on the door to the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.
Pictured: Charles de Gaulle's handwritten letter
On January 27, 1964, China and France simultaneously issued a joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations in Beijing and Paris, which was only 45 words short, but shook the whole world.
Pictured: China and France issued a joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations
The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France was praised by the Western media as "a diplomatic nuclear bomb that broke through the ice of the Cold War." It was like the first of the dominoes to fall, pushing Canada, Italy and other Western countries, setting off a climax of diplomatic relations with China in the early 1970s.
As New China is recognized by more and more countries in the world, and the strict barriers that once surrounded it have gradually been broken, the international situation is still confusing, and it is still unknown when China will be able to return to the United Nations.
Tune in today (October 27) at 20:00
Column Editor-in-Chief: Gu Wanquan Text Editor: Cheng Pei Title Map Source: Shangguan Title Map Photo Editor: Zhu Xuan
Source: Author: CCTV "National Memory"