Reestablishment Of Diplomatic Relations Between China And Italy Is Beneficial To Both Sides

Date: 1955-10-03
Source: en:FLP-Diplomacy
REESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
BETWEEN CHINA AND ITALY IS
BENEFICIAL TO BOTH SIDES*
(October 3, 1955)
"We appreciate very much your efforts to promote reestablishment of
diplomatic relations between China and Italy; this is beneficial to both sides.
As to difficulties, there is only one point, namely, we ask Italy to sever
relations with Chiang Kai-shek, and we are opposed to the U.S. move to create
"two Chinas." Take the case of our relations with Britain. Only after Britain
severed most of its relations with Chiang Kai-shek, did we agree to mutual
recognition. However, Britain maintained its recognition of Chiang Kai-shek
in the United Nations, and that was why we agreed to only "semidiplomatic
relations" with Britain—accrediting only a charge d'affaires mutually. Italy is
not yet a member state of the United Nations, so the question of its
recognition of the Kuomintang in the United Nations does not arise. However,
the United States is exerting pressure on Italy to refrain from recognizing
People's China. If the Italian government can resist this pressure, we can at
once establish diplomatic relations. Presumably, this would take some time.
Some countries are not friendly toward the Chinese people, yet once
normal relations are established, we are ready to do business with them. We
are willing to establish normal relations with Italy, as this would be in the
interest of the people of both our countries.
I can cite the cases of India, Burma, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sweden,
Denmark, Norway and Switzerland—all these countries severed relations with
Chiang Kai-shek before establishing normal relations with China. Britain has
chosen to leave a "tail issue" pending in the United Nations; when we raised
this question, the British found it difficult to provide an answer.
Our art troupe is currently giving performances in Italy. Can Italy also
* These are excerpts from Mao Zedong's talk with Pietro Nenni, Vice-Chairman of the
World Peace Council, Chairman of the National Peace Council of Italy and General Secretary
of the Socialist Party of Italy.
organize an art troupe to visit China? Various ways of contact can be explored
and tried. Delegations sent by Italy to China may include some capitalists, to
let them see for themselves. If the Italian government agrees, China can also
send delegations to Italy. Our contact with Japan has been more frequent;
currently there are over 200 Japanese delegates visiting China.
We are now engaged in work that was never undertaken in the past. To
do our work better, we rely on our own efforts, but we need help from friends
as well. We warmly welcome your visit to China.
(From the verbatim record)