Conversation with Workers at
the Shanghai Machine Tool Factory
(July 8, 1957)

Source: SCMP, 1626 (Oct. 8, 1957), 26–27.

We have no Chinese copy of this conversation. What we have here is a representation of an
excerpt from the SCMP English translation of an article written by Liu Xianhuang which
was published on August 5, 1957, in Sichuan nongmin bao (Peasant News of Sichuan),
Chengdu, as a reprint from Laodong bao (Labor News) of Shanghai (date unspecified in
SCMP). This article reports that Mao visited the Shanghai Machine Tools Factory on July
8, 1957, and spent several hours talking to workers and getting to understand the operations
of the factory. As reported, he was accompanied by, among others, Ke Qingshi (see text Jan.
27, 1957[1], note 13, also text July 9, 1957, note 7), who was then first secretary of the CPC
Municipal Committee of Shanghai.

Expansion is very rapid. The country needs factories like this one. Hope you
will do a good job and speed up socialist construction. . . .
No instructions at all [will I give today]. You are all running this factory. You
have so many young people. You are able to turn the factory into a better one.