So Long as the Two Sides Keep Friendly Relations, the Boundary Issue Is Easy to Solve

Date: 1960-09-29
Source: en:FLP-Diplomacy
so LONG AS THE TWO SIDES KEEP
FRIENDLY RELATIONS, THE BOUNDARY
ISSUE IS EASY TO SOLVE*
{September 29,1960)
Chairman Mao Zedong (hereinafter referred to as Mao): I remember I
suggested that you set up a consulate in Kunming when I first met you. At
that time, you thought Kunming was a dark place. Now you have consulate-general there and you can discover it is a very bright city and very friendly to
you.
Prime Minister U Nu (hereinafter referred to as Nu): Yes. When friends
first meet, they are not familiar with each other. They had no trust in each
other before they meet. After they have met each other, naturally the distrust
and fear disappear.
Mao: A Burmese detachment crossed the border to our side. You mentioned this to me.
Premier Zhou Enlai (hereinafter referred to as Zhou): They are now in
Guizhou engaging in agricultural production. Some of them married Chinese
women. They do not want to go back.
Mao: They hoped we would arm them to fight back. We told them that
we could accept them, but could not arm them. China and Burma should have
friendly relations. There are several dozen of them. They are Kachins,^^^
aren't they?
Nu: Yes, they are.
Mao: Now we are about to sign a Sino-Burmese Boundary Treaty. So long
as both sides keep friendly relations, it is easy to resolve the boundary issue.
Nu: It is entirely because of the friendly relations of the two countries
that the Sino-Burmese Boundary Treaty can be completed so soon; otherwise
it would be impossible to complete it. The friendly relations are not of the
ordinary kind, which cannot remain friendly for long. The friendly relations
These are excerpts from Mao Zedong's talk with Burmese Prime Minister U Nu.
will last forever if they are established on the basis of the Five Principles.'®
Mao: Very well said. Mutual non-injury—I don't injure you and you
don't injure me. This is the negative side. The positive side is mutual benefit.
For a period in the past the Sino-Burmese border was quite tense. Then we
sent a general to inspect the border area, and he found it was unnecessary to
have it so tense. Afterward, the situation got better. Troops from both sides
stationed at the border retreated some distance. There is no reason to keep the
situation tense, is there?
Nu: That's right. Chairman, you talked about it when we met last time.
Mao: It is highly unnecessary to make it tense. It is good the armies keep
some distance—20-kilometer distance—from each side at the border. We have
already reached an agreement with Nepal in this respect.
Zhou: It has already been brought to reality with Nepal.
Mao: There are difficulties to do the same with India. They feel it is not
in their favor. Nepal does not fear, so the agreement was reached. There were
misunderstandings when we suppressed bandits in Tibet, and we took the
responsibility. We have already apologized and made compensation. Business
is business. Right is right and wrong is wrong. Were any people killed at our
border?
Zhou: There were one or two such incidents at the Sino-Burmese border,
but they were resolved as civil disputes between border residents in a friendly
way by the local governments from both sides.
Nu: It happened in Wa. Because there was a foundation of friendly
relations, it did not develop into a serious incident. China suffered bigger
losses, but China did not ask for compensation.
Mao: We have friendly relations. It was a conflict between border
residents and not caused by leaders on both sides.
Nu: Border conflicts can be avoided. Chairman, you are right in saying
that the armies on both sides should keep some distance; in addition, when
education in strengthening friendly relations is carried out among border
residents, things go along well. I believe China has done a very good job in
this respect.
Mao: I heard that you are giving rice and salt to our one million border
residents.
Zhou: They are to give us 2,000 tons of rice and 1,000 tons of salt. They
have them ready for distribution to the border residents tomorrow.
Mao: It is a friendly gesture. How and what shall we give in return?
Zhou: We are to give 1.2 million Burmese border residents colorful cloth
and porcelain. They will be distributed to the border residents at the time of

exchanging of notes when we visit Rangoon on January 4 next year. Prime
Minister U Nu has also invited Comrades Chen
and Luo Ruiqing^"”' and
their wives.
Nu: They are welcome to participate in the celebration of the Independ
ence Day on January 4 and I hope they can visit again at the "Water Splashing
Festival."
Mao: When is the Water Splashing Festival?
Nu: His Excellency Premier Zhou knows very well about the Water
Splashing Festival.
Zhou: I joined in the Water Splashing Festival this year. Yesterday we
three rode in an open vehicle and "splashed water" as well.
Nu: The chilly wind yesterday made our necks stiff.
Mao: The rainfall will do a lot of good to the planting of wheat.
Nu: I was very happy.
Mao: The past two years have had little rain and some drought, which is
more serious this year than last year. I hope we can have a good harvest next
year.
Nu: I share your feelings.
(From the verbatim record)