Conversation with Communist Leaders of Several Latin American Countries
(March 3, 1959)
China has just embarked on the path of development. Our level of economic development is not as high as that of some Latin American countries. Despite our large population, we produce only a limited amount of steel. We have only just taken the first steps toward industrialization. Our people are still quite poor, and it will take many years of sustained effort before we can truly catch up. Nevertheless, we do make progress each year. You should closely monitor us, pointing out our shortcomings and also acknowledging our slow pace of advancement. Your oversight is crucial to ensuring our continued progress. Like other nations in the socialist camp, the Chinese people are an integral part of the global working class. China’s endeavors are part of the international communist movement. We must unite as one, and people around the world should come together in solidarity. Your achievements are also a shared victory for us, and we rejoice whenever you attain success. We are particularly encouraged by the ongoing struggles in Latin America.
The populations of Asia, Africa, and Latin America constitute the majority of the world’s inhabitants. These three continents serve as the rear base for the Western world. However, this rear base is currently unstable, with thinner air making it easier to break free from imperialist domination. Of course, imperialism and its lackeys still rule these regions, much like how imperialists and Chiang Kai-shek once dominated China. Why is the air here considered thin? Because economies in Asia, Africa, and Latin America remain underdeveloped, capitalism has not fully taken root, and imperialist and feudal systems continue to hold sway. Russia was once in a similar situation, with relatively thin air as well. In these regions, there is no