Chapter 61 All African peoples are our friends[1]

(May 3, 1963) You are a delegation from a friendly country, a friendly government, you are welcome.All African friends are welcomed by the Chinese people.Our relations with all African peoples are good, whether they are independent or not independent peoples who are struggling.A great revolutionary movement for national independence and against imperialism and colonialism is emerging in Africa.How many people does Africa have? 200 million! There are also 200 million people in Latin America, more than one billion people in Asia, and revolutionary people all over the world. We have friends everywhere.We are not alone, and neither are you.When you come to China, you can feel that the Chinese people welcome you very much.

Your party[2] is a very good party, a party that connects with the masses, a party that is disciplined, a party whose program is to oppose imperialism, colonialism and the establishment of a national economy, and a party that leads an independent country.We feel that we are very close to you. Our two countries and parties help and support each other. You don't play tricks on us, and we don't play tricks on you either.If any of us do bad things to you, tell us.For example, they look down on you, are conceited, and show a big-country chauvinistic attitude.Are there such people? If so, we will punish them.Is the salary of Chinese experts higher than that of your Guinean experts? Is there any special situation? I am afraid there is. It needs to be checked, and the salary should be the same, and it is better to be lower.

Anyone who acts like a king and hegemony in your place, disobeys your laws, and engages in subversive activities should be driven away.We hope that you will stand firm, not only politically, but also economically, and not be overthrown by others.We are happy when you stand firm, but we are not happy when you fall.Because your party is a revolutionary party and your government is a revolutionary government, which has great influence in Africa. Through you, you can work in many African countries and liberate them.You also have this responsibility, don’t ignore others when you become independent.The same is true for us, we cannot ignore others just because we are independent.The so-called managing others refers to giving friendly support and help.You know that we are still in some difficulties, and the help we have given is not much.In another five or ten years, our situation may be better, and more help may be given at that time.Our country has a big shortcoming. There are too many people. So many people have to eat and wear clothes. So there are still many difficulties. However, these difficulties are not insurmountable, but can be overcome. Measures are being taken to overcome them. .Our country's economy and culture are similar to yours, and it was developed almost without any heritage.In the past, you were a colony of France, and we were a semi-colony that was invaded by several countries.

Our situation is similar to yours, relatively close, so we can talk to you, and we don’t feel that I am bullying you or you are bullying me. No one has any sense of superiority, and they are all people of color.The western countries want to bully us, thinking that we are born with no ability, there is nothing we can do, our fate is doomed, we should be oppressed by imperialism for 10,000 years, we can’t manage the country, we can’t engage in industry, we can’t solve the food problem, and we can’t do science and culture.They don't think about it, who caused this situation? Our low economic and cultural levels are caused by them.To manage the country, they used to manage it on our behalf.The British say that you can manage, but you have to learn, how many years you have to learn, and take your time.But you did not take it slowly, but took power all at once.The same is true for us. After seizing the power, learn again. If you don’t know how to manage, you will gradually manage.If there are mistakes, we should correct them. Could it be that we are the only ones who have made mistakes, and the Western countries have no mistakes? Their mistakes are bigger than ours, and they have made counter-revolutionary mistakes.We have made no mistakes at all. We are carrying out a revolution. Without industry, we can gradually develop industry, without modernized agriculture, we can gradually develop modern agriculture, and the level of science and culture can be improved year by year.

According to the "Mao Zedong Diplomatic Selected Works" published in 1994 by Central Documentation Publishing House and World Knowledge Publishing House, the original title is "Our Relations with the People of All African Countries Are Good." -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ note [1] This is the main part of Mao Zedong's conversation with the Guinean government economic delegation and women's delegation. [2] Refers to the Democratic Party of Guinea.Established in May 1947, it has been in power for a long time since Guinea declared independence in 1958.In November 1978, it was renamed the Guinea National Party.The party was disbanded in 1984 after the military took over supreme power in the country.