Participants: Mao Zedong, Ho Chi Minh, Zhou Enlai, Wang Jiaxiang, Zhang Wentian, Luo Guibo
Archive: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Archives
URL: https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/discussion-between-mao-zedong-and-ho-chi-minh

[Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Archives, 206-00001-03]

[Translator’s note: This document was translated by Matthew Johnson.]

July 3, 1955

Time: Afternoon

Location: Hangzhou

Present: Mao Zedong, Ho Chi Minh, Zhou Enlai, Wang Jiaxiang, Zhang Wentian, Luo Guibo

Ho Chi Minh: I have come this time to report to you on the situation in Vietnam.

Mao Zedong: Very good.

Ho Chi Minh: The Geneva Conference has been over for a year. Generally speaking, the Geneva Agreement is beneficial to us. But the Americans and the French are not reconciled to their defeat, and are trying to sabotage the Geneva Agreement. The French have withdrawn from Vietnam, but they still maintain economic and cultural influence. The Americans have replaced the French, and are directly interfering in South Vietnam. The Vietnamese are very worried about the Americans.

Mao Zedong: How many people are in the South?

Ho Chi Minh: There are 12 million people in the South, and 11 million in the North.

Mao Zedong: How many troops do you have?

Ho Chi Minh: We have seven divisions.

Mao Zedong: That’s not too few.

Ho Chi Minh: The problem now is that the Americans are helping Ngo Dinh Diem. Ngo Dinh Diem is a hooligan. The Americans are helping him to build up his military strength.

Mao Zedong: How many troops does he have?

Ho Chi Minh: He has 150,000 troops. The Americans are helping him to train them.

Mao Zedong: That’s quite a lot.

Ho Chi Minh: The Americans are also helping him to develop his economy.

Mao Zedong: How is the land reform going?

Ho Chi Minh: We have not yet carried out land reform. We are planning to carry it out in the coming year.

Mao Zedong: You should carry it out as soon as possible.

Ho Chi Minh: We are also planning to carry out a campaign to reduce rents.

Mao Zedong: That’s also very important.

Ho Chi Minh: The Americans are also trying to win over the religious people.

Mao Zedong: You should also pay attention to winning over the religious people.

Ho Chi Minh: We are also planning to carry out a campaign to eliminate illiteracy.

Mao Zedong: That’s also very important.

Ho Chi Minh: We are also planning to develop our industry.

Mao Zedong: You should develop your industry as soon as possible.

Ho Chi Minh: We are also planning to develop our agriculture.

Mao Zedong: You should develop your agriculture as soon as possible.

Ho Chi Minh: We are also planning to develop our transportation.

Mao Zedong: You should develop your transportation as soon as possible.

Ho Chi Minh: We are also planning to develop our culture.

Mao Zedong: You should develop your culture as soon as possible.

Ho Chi Minh: We are also planning to develop our education.

Mao Zedong: You should develop your education as soon as possible.

Ho Chi Minh: We are also planning to develop our health care.

Mao Zedong: You should develop your health care as soon as possible.

Ho Chi Minh: We are also planning to develop our sports.

Mao Zedong: You should develop your sports as soon as possible.

Ho Chi Minh: We are also planning to develop our science.

Mao Zedong: You should develop your science as soon as possible.

Ho Chi Minh: We are also planning to develop our technology.

Mao Zedong: You should develop your technology as soon as possible.

Ho Chi Minh: We are also planning to develop our military.

Mao Zedong: You should develop your military as soon as possible.

Ho Chi Minh: We are also planning to develop our foreign relations.

Mao Zedong: You should develop your foreign relations as soon as possible.

Ho Chi Minh: We are also planning to develop our party.

Mao Zedong: You should develop your party as soon as possible.

Ho Chi Minh: We are also planning to develop our government.

Mao Zedong: You should develop your government as soon as possible.

Ho Chi Minh: We are also planning to develop our people.

Mao Zedong: You should develop your people as soon as possible.

Ho Chi Minh: We are also planning to develop our country.

Mao Zedong: You should develop your country as soon as possible.

Ho Chi Minh: We are also planning to develop our world.

Mao Zedong: You should develop your world as soon as possible.

Ho Chi Minh: That is all I have to report.

Mao Zedong: Very good. You should pay attention to the following points: First, you should unite all the people who can be united. Second, you should develop your economy. Third, you should develop your military. Fourth, you should develop your culture. Fifth, you should develop your education. Sixth, you should develop your health care. Seventh, you should develop your sports. Eighth, you should develop your science. Ninth, you should develop your technology. Tenth, you should develop your foreign relations. Eleventh, you should develop your party. Twelfth, you should develop your government. Thirteenth, you should develop your people. Fourteenth, you should develop your country. Fifteenth, you should develop your world.

Ho Chi Minh: I will certainly follow your instructions.

Mao Zedong: You should also pay attention to the following points: First, you should be modest and prudent. Second, you should guard against arrogance and rashness. Third, you should be good at learning from others. Fourth, you should be good at uniting with others. Fifth, you should be good at criticizing yourselves. Sixth, you should be good at correcting your mistakes. Seventh, you should be good at serving the people. Eighth, you should be good at working hard. Ninth, you should be good at studying. Tenth, you should be good at thinking. Eleventh, you should be good at summing up experience. Twelfth, you should be good at making plans. Thirteenth, you should be good at carrying out plans. Fourteenth, you should be good at checking up on the implementation of plans. Fifteenth, you should be good at drawing lessons from experience.