Chapter 5 The "Navigators of Sino-US Relations - Deng Xiaoping and Carter (5)

Deng Xiaoping received a letter from Mao Zedong 42 years ago in Washington. It is worth mentioning that when Deng Xiaoping was visiting Washington, he unexpectedly received a very precious gift—a letter written by Mao Zedong to him and Ren Bishi on August 19, 1937. The thing is like this: Deng Xiaoping met with Nixon, Kissinger and Bush, the former director of the Liaison Office in China, and other figures in Washington. At the same time, he also met a very legendary woman. Helen Snow, first wife of old friend Edgar Snow. Helen is also a well-known American progressive reporter, under the pseudonym Nim Wells and nicknamed Pegg. Born in Chicago on September 21, 1907, his father was a lawyer.Carrying the newspaper clippings of Edgar Snow's articles, she came to Shanghai, China in 1931 on the USS "Lincoln" and worked as a secretary at the US Consulate. Married Edgar Snow in 1932. In April 1937, under the influence of Snow, she went to Xi'an alone, and successfully crossed the Kuomintang's blockade and entered Yan'an. An important supplement to "Red Stars Shine on China" (ie "Westward Journey").During her stay in China, she and Snow also participated in the planning of the "December 9th Movement" and the "China Gonghe" movement in Beijing.She has always paid attention to China and loves China, and has written 17 books on China, but most of them have not been published.

In 1937, after Helen arrived in Yan'an, she interviewed more than 40 leaders of the Communist Party of China and famous Red Army generals, including Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Zhu De.However, it is a pity that she did not interview Deng Xiaoping and Ren Bishi.Because they have led the troops to leave Yan'an for Yunyang Town, and are on standby to go to the anti-Japanese front line.But Helen was not reconciled. Her goal was to interview all the senior generals of the CCP and write a note to them.So, she found Mao Zedong and asked Mao Zedong to find a way for her.Mao Zedong couldn't resist her "pursuit", so he had to agree to write her a letter of introduction.

Comrade Bishi and Deng Xiaoping: Mrs. Snow went to the front with the troops, and as a war correspondent, she wrote reports.Please provide assistance and care in all aspects of work and life. To present Mao Zedong August 19, 1937 But when Helen rushed to Yunyang enthusiastically with Mao Zedong's handwritten letter, Ren Bishi and Deng Xiaoping had already left Yunyang. After the founding of New China in 1949, although Snow had visited China many times, because she and Snow had divorced in 1949, she could not deliver this letter.Helen never gave up on giving the letter to its owner.After Ren Bishi passed away in 1950, Helen always looked forward to delivering this letter to Deng Xiaoping herself.However, the distance between heaven and earth, the barrier of time and space, and the 30 years of political isolation and confrontation between China and the United States, until Deng Xiaoping came to the United States this time, Helen was overjoyed and immediately rushed from her hometown of Connecticut to report to the U.S. State Department. Put forward a request to meet with Deng Xiaoping.After many efforts, she got a satisfactory answer and finally got her wish.

When she shook hands with Deng Xiaoping, Helen said the first words excitedly: "You are so hard to find!" yes!I have been looking for this for 42 years!Chairman Mao Zedong also passed away three years ago. Deng Xiaoping shook Helen's hand warmly, and said cordially, "You are a famous reporter! I've heard about it, and I've heard about it. It's a pity that we just met today." Then, Helen excitedly handed over the 42-year-old letter to Deng Xiaoping, the recipient.Photographers rushed to take pictures of this very precious scene in the history of Sino-US friendship, and many newspapers later reported this very meaningful news in a prominent position.

"I will never forget your visit to America." In August 1981, the Carters, who had just left office, were invited to China.Deng Xiaoping cordially met with the Carters.During the talks, what they talked about most was still the issue of Sino-US relations of common concern. Deng Xiaoping said: "I sincerely hope that Sino-US relations will not stagnate, but continue to develop. The development of Sino-US relations is the need of the global strategy, and it is also the common need of China and the United States. The normalization process of Sino-US relations starts from the US On the one hand, it was initiated by then-President Nixon and completed when Mr. Carter was in office. I hope the Reagan administration will continue to make efforts to promote Sino-US relations.”

Carter said: "For the American people, the benefits of the new relationship between the United States and China are huge and obvious. This relationship will continue to develop forward and will not vary by party." However, Things were not as Carter said. As soon as the Reagan administration came to power, the change in China policy once again cast a shadow over Sino-US relations.This is something. In this meeting, they inevitably talked about the Taiwan issue again.After the meeting, Deng Xiaoping hosted a luncheon for the Carters. This is the second meeting between Deng Xiaoping and Carter.The third meeting was in June 1987, six years later.Deng Xiaoping still met with the Carters in the Great Hall of the People.

During the talks, they also expressed their views on international issues of common concern, as well as Sino-Japanese relations, Sino-Indian relations, Sino-Soviet relations and Middle East issues. Deng Xiaoping said: "If China copied your multi-party elections and the separation of powers, it would definitely be a turbulent situation. China's main goal is to develop, to get rid of backwardness, to increase the power of the country, and to gradually improve people's lives. To do such a thing, there must be a stable political environment. China’s political system reform must emphasize socialist democracy and socialist legal system. While emphasizing democracy, we must emphasize the importance of educating our people, especially young people. Be ambitious and disciplined."

The Carters, who are in China for the second time, made a special trip to Tibet this time.Carter explained to Deng Xiaoping that he had two main purposes for going to Tibet: one was to make a comparison with Nepal, and the other was to see the historical and cultural restoration of Tibet after the "Cultural Revolution".And said: "I am a farmer, and the agricultural situation near Lhasa has left a good impression on me." He thinks that Tibet has a bright prospect for tourism development. Deng Xiaoping also recognized that Tibet has great potential for development, and said that the central government has devoted a lot of energy to the development of ethnic minority areas, and the policy is unswerving.Deng Xiaoping said: "The People's Republic of China has no ethnic discrimination, and our policy toward Tibet is true ethnic equality. If you judge China's ethnic policy and the Tibet issue by how many Han people are in Tibet, you will not draw the correct conclusion. The key is to look at how In the interest of the Tibetan people, how can Tibet be developed quickly." Deng Xiaoping pointed out that when looking at ethnic issues, we must "focus on the essence, not on the form."

Deng Xiaoping also asked Carter: "How does it feel to be in Lhasa this time?" "Very interesting," Carter said. "If you have the opportunity to travel long distances in the future, I think you should go to America again first." Deng Xiaoping said with a hearty smile while smoking: "God does not allow me to be 20 years younger." "The most significant event for the United States is the normalization of relations with the People's Republic of China," Carter said. Deng Xiaoping said: "We often recall the normalization of relations between the two countries and the scene when I was treated exceptionally by the U.S. government during my visit to the United States. During your tenure, the normalization of Sino-U.S. relations was not easy. amazing."

"I will never forget your visit to America," Carter said. At the end of the meeting, Carter and his wife Rosalind said to Deng Xiaoping: "Thank you very much for the tapestry you gave to the Carter Library. We like it very much." Carter gave Deng Xiaoping his just-published memoir as a gift, and Deng Xiaoping happily accepted it. The conversation between Deng Xiaoping and Carter at this meeting was later divided into two articles, entitled "Nothing can be done without a stable political environment" and "Based on ethnic equality, accelerating the development of Tibet", which was included in the third volume of "Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping". roll.