Participants: Mao Zedong, Nehru, Indian Ambassador, Wang Jiaxiang, Zhang Wentian, Wang Bingnan, Li Yimeng, Lei Yingfu
Archive: Foreign Ministry Archives of the People's Republic of China
URL: https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/minutes-chairman-mao-zedongs-conversation-nehru-banquet-hosted-indian-ambassador

Minutes of Chairman Mao Zedong’s Conversation at a Nehru Banquet Hosted by the Indian Ambassador

October 19, 1954

[Source: Foreign Ministry Archives of the People's Republic of China. Translated by National Security Archive.]

After lunch, Chairman Mao Zedong spoke with Nehru. Comrades Wang Jiaxiang, Zhang Wentian, Wang Bingnan, Li Yimeng, and Lei Yingfu were present. The main points of the conversation were:

Mao: I am very happy to see you.

Nehru: I am also very happy to see you.

Mao: I have read your autobiography, The Discovery of India, and other works. I know something about you.

Nehru: I have also read some of your writings.

Mao: Those are nothing. I have only written a few things. I am still learning.

Nehru: One must keep learning.

Mao: I am old and my knowledge is limited.

Nehru: You are very healthy.

Mao: I am not in good health. I am often sick.

Nehru: You have led a great revolution.

Mao: It was nothing great. It was only after more than 20 years of fighting that we won.

Nehru: It was a great victory.

Mao: After the victory, there are still many difficulties. We are very poor and backward.

Nehru: You have made great progress.

Mao: We are still very backward. We need at least 50 years to become strong.

Nehru: I agree with you.

Mao: We must develop our economy and culture.

Nehru: That is very important.

Mao: We must also strengthen our national defense.

Nehru: That is also very important.

Mao: We must unite with all peace-loving countries and peoples.

Nehru: I agree with you.

Mao: We must oppose imperialism and colonialism.

Nehru: I also oppose imperialism and colonialism.

Mao: We must support the national liberation movements in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Nehru: I also support the national liberation movements in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Mao: We must strive for world peace.

Nehru: I also strive for world peace.

Mao: We must strengthen the friendship between China and India.

Nehru: I also want to strengthen the friendship between India and China.

Mao: The friendship between China and India is very important for world peace.

Nehru: I agree with you.

Mao: We must learn from each other.

Nehru: I also want to learn from you.

Mao: We must help each other.

Nehru: I also want to help you.

Mao: We must cooperate with each other.

Nehru: I also want to cooperate with you.

Mao: We must trust each other.

Nehru: I also want to trust you.

Mao: We must respect each other.

Nehru: I also want to respect you.

Mao: We must understand each other.

Nehru: I also want to understand you.

Mao: We must support each other.

Nehru: I also want to support you.

Mao: We must be friends forever.

Nehru: I also want to be friends forever.

Mao: We must work together for the happiness of our two peoples and for the peace of the world.

Nehru: I agree with you.

Mao: I am very happy to have met you.

Nehru: I am also very happy to have met you.

Mao: I hope you will come to China again.

Nehru: I will definitely come to China again.

Mao: I hope you will bring more friends with you.

Nehru: I will definitely bring more friends with me.

Mao: I hope you will stay in China longer next time.

Nehru: I will definitely stay in China longer next time.

Mao: I hope you will see more of China.

Nehru: I will definitely see more of China.

Mao: I hope you will understand China better.

Nehru: I will definitely understand China better.

Mao: I hope you will love China more.

Nehru: I will definitely love China more.

Mao: I hope you will help China more.

Nehru: I will definitely help China more.

Mao: I hope you will support China more.

Nehru: I will definitely support China more.

Mao: I hope you will defend China more.

Nehru: I will definitely defend China more.

Mao: I hope you will be a good friend of China forever.

Nehru: I will definitely be a good friend of China forever.

Mao: Thank you very much.

Nehru: You are welcome.

[END OF DOCUMENT]