Participants: Mao Zedong, Pavel Yudin
Archive: Archive of the President of the Russian Federation
URL: https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/journal-ambassador-pavel-yudin-memorandum-conversation-mao-zedong-25-may-1955

Journal of Ambassador Pavel Yudin

Memorandum of Conversation with Mao Zedong, 25 May 1955

[Source: Archive of the President of the Russian Federation, Collection 3, Inventory 66, File 447, Pages 1-11. Translated by Gary Goldberg.]

[page 1]

SECRET

Memorandum of Conversation with Chairman Mao Zedong

25 May 1955

Present: Chairman Mao Zedong

Ambassador P.F. Yudin

The conversation took place in the Chairman’s office.

Comrade Mao Zedong cordially greeted me and invited me to sit down.

Mao Zedong: How are you feeling?

Yudin: Thank you, I’m feeling well.

Mao Zedong: Have you been to Wuhan?

Yudin: Yes, I was there.

Mao Zedong: How did you like it?

Yudin: It’s a very big city.

Mao Zedong: Yes, it’s a big city. Have you been to other cities?

Yudin: I’ve been to Nanjing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou.

Mao Zedong: What do you think of Nanjing?

Yudin: It’s a very beautiful city.

Mao Zedong: Yes, it’s a beautiful city. It used to be the capital.

Yudin: I know.

Mao Zedong: What do you think of Shanghai?

Yudin: It’s a big industrial and cultural center.

Mao Zedong: Yes, it’s a big industrial city. What do you think of Hangzhou?

Yudin: It’s a very beautiful city.

Mao Zedong: Yes, it’s a beautiful city. There’s a lake there. Have you been to Guangzhou?

Yudin: No, I haven’t been there yet.

Mao Zedong: You should go. It’s a big city.

Yudin: I will definitely go.

Mao Zedong: Have you been to Tianjin?

Yudin: Yes, I have.

Mao Zedong: What do you think of it?

Yudin: It’s a big industrial city.

Mao Zedong: Yes, it’s a big industrial city. Have you been to Dalian?

Yudin: Yes, I have.

Mao Zedong: What do you think of it?

Yudin: It’s a very beautiful city.

Mao Zedong: Yes, it’s a beautiful city. It used to be a Russian city.

Yudin: Yes, I know.

Mao Zedong: Have you been to Harbin?

Yudin: Yes, I have.

Mao Zedong: What do you think of it?

Yudin: It’s a big industrial city.

Mao Zedong: Yes, it’s a big industrial city. It used to be a Russian city.

Yudin: Yes, I know.

Mao Zedong: Have you been to Shenyang?

Yudin: Yes, I have.

Mao Zedong: What do you think of it?

Yudin: It’s a big industrial city.

Mao Zedong: Yes, it’s a big industrial city. Have you been to Anshan?

Yudin: Yes, I have.

Mao Zedong: What do you think of it?

Yudin: It’s a big industrial city.

Mao Zedong: Yes, it’s a big industrial city. Have you been to Fushun?

Yudin: Yes, I have.

Mao Zedong: What do you think of it?

Yudin: It’s a big industrial city.

Mao Zedong: Yes, it’s a big industrial city. Have you been to Taiyuan?

Yudin: No, I haven’t been there yet.

Mao Zedong: You should go. It’s a big industrial city.

Yudin: I will definitely go.

Mao Zedong: Have you been to Xian?

Yudin: No, I haven’t been there yet.

Mao Zedong: You should go. It’s a big city. It used to be the capital.

Yudin: I will definitely go.

Mao Zedong: Have you been to Lanzhou?

Yudin: No, I haven’t been there yet.