Lesson 16: Independent and Peaceful Diplomacy

Introduction of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence

After the founding of New China, it pursued an independent and peaceful foreign policy. On the day of the founding of New China, Mao Zedong declared to the world: "This government is the sole legitimate government representing the people of the People's Republic of China. This government is willing to establish diplomatic relations with any foreign government that is willing to abide by the principles of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect for territorial sovereignty."

In the first year after its establishment, New China established diplomatic relations with more than a dozen countries, including the Soviet Union, to create a favorable external environment for the resumption of economic construction. Some imperialist countries such as the United States, on the other hand, adopted a hostile attitude toward the new China, pursued a policy of diplomatic isolation, refrained from establishing diplomatic relations with China, and imposed a blockade and embargo on China.

At the end of 1953, when Zhou Enlai received the Indian delegation, he first put forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence as the principles for handling relations between the two countries. The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are now expressed as mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. The following year, Zhou Enlai visited India and Burma and issued joint statements with Indian Prime Minister Nehru and Burmese Prime Minister U Nu respectively, in which both sides agreed to adopt the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence as the basic principles guiding relations between China, India and Burma. Under the active advocacy of the three premiers, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have had a far-reaching impact internationally and have been accepted by more and more countries around the world as the basic guidelines for handling relations between nations.

Strengthening Solidarity and Cooperation with Asian and African Countries

In 1955, Zhou Enlai led a Chinese delegation to the Asian-African Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia. This was the first Asian-African conference without the participation of colonialist countries. At the conference, the imperialist countries provoked representatives of some countries to attack communism in front of the Chinese delegates, and even suspected China of "subversive" activities against neighboring countries. In response to the imperialist conspiracy to sabotage the conference and the contradictions and differences between countries, Zhou Enlai proposed the policy of "seeking common ground while reserving differences", which contributed to the success of the conference. The Chinese delegation also actively engaged in diplomatic exchanges at the conference and met with delegations of many countries, strengthening unity and cooperation with Asian and African countries.

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