40 years ago, on November 15, 1971, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 2758, this time restoring China's legitimate seat in the United Nations, Qiao Guanhua, who led the Chinese delegation to the meeting, laughed, this scene was photographed by journalists, and soon after this picture won the Pulitzer Prize for Photojournalism. Since then, Qiao Guanhua's laughter has become a historical classic lens.
In 1974, Qiao Guanhua officially became minister of foreign affairs and made outstanding contributions to the development of China's diplomatic cause. In 1976, Qiao Guanhua left office, and Huang Hua, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, took over his post as the new Foreign Minister. So, what is the story of Huang Hua? How did he live in his later years?
Huang Hua was born in 1913, a native of Ci County, Hebei Province, and from middle school, Huang Hua worked hard to study and pursue progressive ideas. After graduating from high school, Huang Hua was admitted to Yenching University at that time and served as the president of the student council. During his university years, Huang Hua actively participated in the patriotic movement, especially in the 129 Movement, and threw himself into the historical wave of anti-Japanese salvation.
It is worth mentioning that at that time, there was a foreign teacher named Edgar Snow at Yenching University, who was extremely interested in the Chinese revolution, especially the Red Army, and wanted to go to Yan'an to interview the Red Army, and Huang Hua was his student. In 1936, Huang Hua served as Snow's interpreter and accompanied Snow to Yan'an. During his time in Yan'an, Huang Hua assisted Snow well in completing the interview work, and Snow was later able to write the famous book "Journey to the West", with a credit from Huang Hua.
During his stay in Yan'an, Huang Hua was touched by the hard and simple style of the Red Army and our party, and he was determined not to return to the big cities, but to stay in Yan'an to continue to participate in the anti-Japanese salvation movement. It is worth mentioning that because Huang Hua was already determined to stay in Yan'an, he told Snow not to appear his real name when writing the book, so huang Hua's name did not appear until the later reprint of "Journey to the West". After experiencing the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation, Huang Hua ushered in the founding of New China.
After the founding of New China, Huang Hua entered the diplomatic service, and in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, his main work was to participate in the negotiation of the Korean Armistice Agreement. After the end of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, Huang Hua continued to engage in diplomatic work, successively serving as ambassadors to Ghana, Egypt, Canada and other countries, making outstanding contributions to the development of New China's diplomatic cause. It is worth mentioning that when the United Nations restored China's legitimate seat 40 years ago, Huang Hua happened to be by Qiao Guanhua's side and witnessed this great historical moment.
After China's legitimate seat was restored, Huang Hua remained there as his first permanent representative to the United Nations and its Security Council. On the other hand, shortly after returning to China, Qiao Guanhua was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and began to preside over the daily work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, in 1976, Qiao Guanhua left office and no longer held the position of foreign minister. Considering that Huang Hua was familiar with diplomatic work, the organization asked him to succeed Qiao Guanhua as the new minister of foreign affairs.
Huang Hua worked in the United Nations for a period of time, familiar with diplomatic rules, and did a lot of work for the development of the motherland's diplomatic cause after taking office. In 1978, Huang Hua signed a treaty of peace and friendship with Japan, which promoted the development of Sino-Japanese relations. It was also this year that Huang Hua presided over the negotiations on the establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States, and with Huang Hua's efforts, in January 1979, China and the United States formally established diplomatic relations.
In 1982, Huang Hua, who had made outstanding contributions to the diplomatic work of new China, resigned as Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 1983, at the Sixth National People's Congress, Huang Hua was elected vice chairman of the National People's Congress and became a vice-state-level cadre. After that, Huang Hua attended many international conferences and visited with the delegation as an official of the National People's Congress, publicizing the achievements of construction since the reform and opening up in the international arena and improving the status of New China in the world.
In his later years, Huang Hua lived mainly in Beijing, where he died of illness in 2010 at the age of 97.