Participants: Mao Zedong, N.V. Roshchin
Archive: Archive of the President of the Russian Federation
URL: https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/memorandum-conversation-mao-and-ussr-ambassador-china-nv-roshchin-1-january-1950

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Memorandum of Conversation

1 January 1950

Mao Zedong

N.V. Roshchin

     Comrade Mao Zedong stated that he is very glad to see Comrade Roshchin. He asked him to convey his best wishes to the Soviet government and to Comrade Stalin personally.

     Comrade Roshchin thanked Comrade Mao Zedong for the good wishes and conveyed to him best wishes from the Soviet government and from Comrade Stalin personally.

     Comrade Mao Zedong stated that he had arrived in Moscow on 16 December and that he intends to stay in the USSR for about two weeks in order to resolve questions of interest to both sides.

     Comrade Roshchin asked whether Comrade Mao Zedong intends to visit other cities in the Soviet Union.

     Comrade Mao Zedong answered that he would like to visit Leningrad and other cities, but that he probably will not have the time for this.

     Comrade Mao Zedong asked Comrade Roshchin what he could tell him about the situation in China.

     Comrade Roshchin answered that the Soviet government is following events in China with great attention and with great satisfaction. The successes of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army are being greeted with enthusiasm by the entire Soviet people. The Soviet government is ready to render the Chinese people all possible assistance in the cause of building a new, democratic China.

     Comrade Mao Zedong thanked him for the assistance.

     Comrade Roshchin asked Comrade Mao Zedong what questions he would like to discuss with the Soviet government.

     Comrade Mao Zedong answered that he would like to discuss the question of the existing treaty between the USSR and China. He would like to know the opinion of the Soviet government on this question.

     Comrade Roshchin answered that he is not authorized to express the opinion of the Soviet government on this question.

     Comrade Mao Zedong stated that he understands this.

     Comrade Mao Zedong asked Comrade Roshchin what other questions he would like to discuss with him.

     Comrade Roshchin answered that he would like to know Comrade Mao Zedong’s opinion on the situation in the Far East, in particular, on the situation in Japan.

     Comrade Mao Zedong answered that the situation in Japan is very complex. On the one hand, the American occupiers are pursuing a policy of suppressing the democratic forces and reviving Japanese militarism. On the other hand, the Japanese people are displaying a growing desire for peace and democracy. The Communist Party of Japan is playing an important role in this struggle.

     Comrade Roshchin asked Comrade Mao Zedong what he thinks about the prospects for the development of relations between China and Japan.

     Comrade Mao Zedong answered that the prospects for the development of relations between China and Japan are good. The Chinese and Japanese peoples have a long history of friendly relations. After the victory of the Chinese revolution, the conditions are being created for the further development of these relations.

     Comrade Roshchin asked Comrade Mao Zedong what he thinks about the prospects for the development of relations between China and other countries in Asia.

     Comrade Mao Zedong answered that the prospects for the development of relations between China and other countries in Asia are also good. China is ready to establish friendly relations with all countries that respect its independence and sovereignty.

     The conversation lasted 30 minutes.
     Recorded by: /signature/ (V. Fedorov)