There is no barrier between us.


We are for your good, because what is good for you is also good for us.
We hope you will grow strong and develop, for this benefits us and benefits world peace.


The Asian-African countries have just held a conference in Bandung, [1] and all these countries should grow strong, including Japan.
In the past, Japan was not good, but now it too is being bullied.
It would be good if all countries bullied by imperialism grew strong.
Thanks to the initiation and convening of the Colombo Five, [2] and under the chairmanship of the President and Prime Minister of Indonesia, the Bandung Conference was conducted well.
China participated in this conference as an Asian-African country, and in this capacity, China also contributed its share of effort.


China is willing to engage in friendly cooperation with all countries; China did not attend this conference to do bad things.
Because of the attitude China adopted, some countries that are not friendly toward us, such as Japan, the Philippines, and Thailand, were able to get along with us during the conference, passably so, without any major friction.
Of course, there were quite a few awkward moments, but still, there were some points in common.


We share one circumstance with these countries: they also have the same difficulty, namely, being bullied by the imperialist country, the United States.
Thailand’s economy is also underdeveloped.
Although Japan is more advanced than we are, it too has economic difficulties.
This is speaking generally; of course, there are individual exceptions.
Therefore, politically and economically, generally speaking, we have certain points in common.


This Asian-African Conference was probably the first conference of Asian and African countries in history.


Over the past several centuries, due to their prolonged aggression, the Western countries have developed a mentality toward Asia and Africa, looking down on backward countries.
They say we are colored races.
This is distinguishing by skin color, just as one speaks of non-ferrous metals.
We, these "non-ferrous metals," will expand; of course, we will not go and invade others.
But "non-ferrous metals" are more valuable, for non-ferrous metals include gold, silver, copper, tin, and so on.
If a nation has not only preserved itself but also developed over many centuries, it must have its strengths; otherwise, it cannot be understood.
The Western countries say our nation is no good; then how could our nation have preserved and developed itself?


We get along very well in conversation.
We have talked with Prime Minister Nehru [3] and Prime Minister U Nu, [4] and now we have also talked with Prime Minister Sastroamidjojo.
As friends, we can get along well.


In the face of the Western countries, our problem is to unite and defend ourselves, not to scheme against or harm one another.
Our relations are not about mutual harm, but mutual benefit—not only in commerce and culture, but also in political cooperation. The Bandung Conference is one example.


We want to enable these countries to see progress every year.
We must help one another and solve some difficult problems that can be solved.
Each of us has our own difficult problems; through mutual help, we can strive to resolve these difficulties.


To this end, steps must be taken to eliminate the misunderstandings and barriers that exist between us and to increase mutual understanding.
For example, in the past, there was the Tibet issue between China and India, the issue of overseas Chinese and the boundary question between China and Burma, and the issue of overseas Chinese between China and Indonesia.


Even with those countries with which our relations are not very good, we must also take concrete steps to resolve some problems.
Even with countries like Thailand and the Philippines, our thinking is the same: whenever possible, we strive to improve relations with them.


We once discussed the issue of Thailand with Prime Minister Nehru and Prime Minister U Nu and asked them to help us persuade Thailand.
Thailand says it fears we will send troops to attack it, but how could we attack recklessly?
Thailand also fears our Dai Autonomous Region. [5]
We said it could send a consul to Kunming to see whether we intend to attack it.
Premier Zhou talked with the Foreign Minister of Thailand in Bandung, also for the purpose of improving relations.


If possible, I hope that when Your Excellency the Prime Minister meets the leaders of Thailand and the Philippines, you will speak on our behalf and tell them that China wishes to be friendly with their countries.


Even with the Western countries, as long as they are willing, we are also willing to cooperate with them.
We are willing to use peaceful methods to resolve existing problems.


War is always bad, especially for the Western countries, it yields no good results; history has already proven this.
In war, both sides lose materials and lives, but history proves that war has a political consequence unfavorable to the Western countries.


After the First World War, Soviet Russia broke free from its old relations; after the Second World War, China and many other countries won liberation.
The Second World War produced two results: first, it produced countries like China, Poland, and Czechoslovakia, which are managed by Communist Parties; second, in many Asian and African countries like Indonesia, India, and Burma, movements led by nationalists made these countries independent and self-determined, or nearly so.


Since the Second World War, Egypt has undergone great changes, as have many countries in the Near East and the Middle East.
Although the United States has grown strong, the camp of the Western countries has, on the whole, weakened.


A few years ago, everyone present here was illegitimate; we were all "outlaws," "traitors," "bad elements."
But now that has changed.
We drove away those so-called good people; you drove away the Japanese and the Dutch; we drove away the Japanese, the Americans, and Chiang Kai-shek.
These people all said we were terribly bad.
Prime Minister Nehru, Prime Minister U Nu, and Prime Minister Sastroamidjojo all spent long periods in jail.


We can use this history to persuade the Western countries.
They say their power is immense; then why, after the Second World War, have we all become independent?
This historical evidence is very powerful; it is neither fabrication nor intimidation.
In the past, the Western countries intimidated us for several centuries; now, in the end, have they intimidated us, or have we intimidated them?


Therefore, the conclusion is that it is best not to fight a Third World War; if it is fought, the result will not be unfavorable to us, nor to the Asian and African countries, but unfavorable to the Western countries.
If this is called intimidation, so be it, but we say this with grounds; we have the history of two world wars as our basis.


Precisely considering this, we say, let us try to solve problems through negotiation.
Moreover, both the Korean War and the Indochina War were ultimately resolved through negotiation, and the Taiwan issue can also be resolved through negotiation.
We have already demonstrated this point at the Bandung Conference and can use it to persuade the Western countries.


But the Western countries may not listen; their thinking is biased to one side, believing they have more steel, more money, and more atomic bombs.


Are we afraid of these things?
A little afraid, but not very afraid.
We say a little afraid, because weapons kill people.
Our people do not wish to suffer losses, so we do not want war.
The effect of these things in the hands of the Western countries cannot surpass the power of the people, because the people have life.


The Western countries have many great kings—oil kings, steel kings, automobile kings; history proves that the end of kings is always unfortunate.
Hitler, [6] Mussolini, [7] Tojo, [8] and Chiang Kai-shek were all once great kings.
This room was once inhabited by emperors, but they are no longer here now.
Kings all hold many things in their hands; the people hold nothing in their hands.


I believe that when our Indonesian friends began their struggle, they also had nothing in their hands.
When we began our struggle, we were utterly unarmed; our opponents were all fully armed.
But the unarmed people drove away the fully armed ones.
History over thousands of years proves that the more things the decadent hold in their hands, the faster they fall.


Therefore, the conclusion remains one: peace is paramount.


As far as atomic bombs are concerned, the Asian and African countries are proletarians; we, these countries, do not have a single atomic bomb.
We hope that the countries rich in this regard will use their "treasure" well; if they use it recklessly, it may not be to their advantage.
We do not have a single atomic bomb; how could we go and invade others?
To use bare hands to invade those with atomic bombs—would that not be dangerous?


Yet others call us "aggressors," saying the Chinese are fond of aggression.
First, we "aggressed" against the Chinese mainland, and now we want to "aggress" against Jinmen and Mazu; second, Kim Il Sung [9] "aggressed" in Korea up to the 38th Parallel, [10] and China later helped Kim Il Sung; third, Ho Chi Minh [11] also "aggressed" up to the 17th Parallel. [12]
And the people who say this about us seem to be exceedingly peace-loving.
We have heard that the Dutch also say Indonesia wants to "aggress" against West Irian. [13]


Your Excellency the Prime Minister says Indonesia wants to peacefully utilize its abundant resources; I fully agree.
Indonesia’s future is extraordinary, with so many treasures.
Although Japan is relatively developed now, it is poor in resources; Indonesia will surely surpass Japan.
Indonesia and Japan have similar populations, but Indonesia has a large territory, good climate, and especially rich deposits of materials; in some years, a new Indonesia stronger than Japan will emerge.
Of course, Indonesia will peacefully utilize its resources, which is also beneficial to others.


The Chinese people fully support the Indonesian people in defending their own country.
We believe the Indonesian people likewise support the Chinese people in defending their own country.


I cannot find any conflict of interest between our two countries; I can only find aspects of mutual benefit in our cooperation.


The unity of the Asian and African countries is hopeful; the Bandung Conference has already taken the first step.
Henceforth, we should work together, continue our efforts, unite, and promote peace.


Even if there is war, we can postpone it.
We must strive for a peaceful environment, for as long a time as possible; this is hopeful and possible.


If the United States is willing to sign a peace treaty, any length of time is acceptable—if fifty years is not enough, then one hundred years; I do not know if the United States is willing.


The main problem now is the United States; I think you will not oppose this.