Participants: Mao Zedong, Ernesto "Che" Guevara, Wang Hairong (Note-taker), Xu Jianguo, Huang Kecheng
Archive: Archivo Nacional de Cuba
URL: https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/memorandum-conversation-between-mao-zedong-and-ernesto-che-guevara

November 19, 1960

Chairman Mao: Welcome, welcome.

Che Guevara: Thank you.

Chairman Mao: You are Argentinian?

Che Guevara: Yes.

Chairman Mao: How old are you?

Che Guevara: Thirty-two.

Chairman Mao: I am sixty-seven.

Che Guevara: You are very healthy.

Chairman Mao: I am already very ill.

Che Guevara: You look very healthy.

Chairman Mao: It is only outwardly. I am already very ill.

Che Guevara: I wish you good health.

Chairman Mao: Thank you. You have come to China this time, what do you want to see?

Che Guevara: I want to see everything.

Chairman Mao: You have already been to Shanghai?

Che Guevara: Yes, I have been to Shanghai, Wuhan, and Zhengzhou.

Chairman Mao: How long have you been in China?

Che Guevara: Eight days.

Chairman Mao: You have come to China to take a look.

Che Guevara: Yes, I have come to take a look.

Chairman Mao: Do you know English?

Che Guevara: A little.

Chairman Mao: Who is your translator?

Che Guevara: This comrade. (Points to Xu Jianguo)

Chairman Mao: Oh, he is your translator.

Che Guevara: Yes.

Chairman Mao: You are the head of the National Bank?

Che Guevara: Yes.

Chairman Mao: You are an economist.

Che Guevara: Yes.

Chairman Mao: You are now doing economic work.

Che Guevara: Yes.

Chairman Mao: You are very young.

Che Guevara: Yes.

Chairman Mao: You are a doctor?

Che Guevara: Yes.

Chairman Mao: You are a doctor and an economist.

Che Guevara: Yes.

Chairman Mao: You are also a soldier.

Che Guevara: Yes.

Chairman Mao: You are very busy!

Che Guevara: Yes, very busy.

Chairman Mao: You are interested in philosophy?

Che Guevara: Yes, I am very interested.

Chairman Mao: I have written a few books. Have you seen them?

Che Guevara: I have seen them.

Chairman Mao: What do you think of them?

Che Guevara: They are very good.

Chairman Mao: What is good about them?

Che Guevara: They teach us how to think.

Chairman Mao: How to think?

Che Guevara: Yes.

Chairman Mao: What do you think of our People’s Commune?

Che Guevara: Very good.

Chairman Mao: What is good about it?

Che Guevara: It is very organized.

Chairman Mao: It is very big.

Che Guevara: Yes, it is very big.

Chairman Mao: There are industry, agriculture, and also schools.

Che Guevara: Yes, I have seen them.

Chairman Mao: Do you think it is good to organize the People’s Commune?

Che Guevara: I think it is very good.

Chairman Mao: You are from the countryside?

Che Guevara: No, I am from the city.

Chairman Mao: You have been to the countryside?

Che Guevara: Yes, I have been to the countryside.

Chairman Mao: You have been to our countryside?

Che Guevara: Yes, I have been to your countryside.

Chairman Mao: What do you think of our countryside?

Che Guevara: Very good.

Chairman Mao: What is good about it?

Che Guevara: It is very clean.

Chairman Mao: It is also very poor.

Che Guevara: Yes, it is also very poor.

Chairman Mao: You have been to many places.

Che Guevara: Yes, I have been to many places.

Chairman Mao: You have been to the Soviet Union?

Che Guevara: Yes, I have been to the Soviet Union.

Chairman Mao: What do you think of the Soviet Union?

Che Guevara: Very good.

Chairman Mao: What is good about it?

Che Guevara: It is very strong.

Chairman Mao: It is also very big.

Che Guevara: Yes, it is very big.

Chairman Mao: You have been to Eastern Europe?

Che Guevara: Yes, I have been to Eastern Europe.

Chairman Mao: What do you think of Eastern Europe?

Che Guevara: Very good.

Chairman Mao: What is good about it?

Che Guevara: It is very developed.

Chairman Mao: It is also very small.

Che Guevara: Yes, it is very small.

Chairman Mao: You have been to Africa?

Che Guevara: No, I have not been to Africa.

Chairman Mao: You want to go to Africa?

Che Guevara: Yes, I want to go to Africa.

Chairman Mao: Africa is very poor.

Che Guevara: Yes, I know.

Chairman Mao: Africa is also very big.

Che Guevara: Yes, I know.

Chairman Mao: You want to help Africa?

Che Guevara: Yes, I want to help Africa.

Chairman Mao: How do you want to help Africa?

Che Guevara: I want to help Africa with my experience.

Chairman Mao: What experience do you have?

Che Guevara: I have experience in revolution.

Chairman Mao: You want to teach them how to make revolution?

Che Guevara: Yes, I want to teach them how to make revolution.

Chairman Mao: Revolution is not easy.

Che Guevara: Yes, I know.

Chairman Mao: Revolution requires a party.

Che Guevara: Yes, I know.

Chairman Mao: Revolution requires an army.

Che Guevara: Yes, I know.

Chairman Mao: Revolution requires a base area.

Che Guevara: Yes, I know.

Chairman Mao: Revolution requires a correct line.

Che Guevara: Yes, I know.

Chairman Mao: Revolution requires self-reliance.

Che Guevara: Yes, I know.

Chairman Mao: Revolution requires international support.

Che Guevara: Yes, I know.

Chairman Mao: You are a revolutionary.

Che Guevara: Yes, I am a revolutionary.

Chairman Mao: You are a very good revolutionary.

Che Guevara: Thank you.

Chairman Mao: You are very young.

Che Guevara: Yes, I am very young.

Chairman Mao: You have a bright future.

Che Guevara: Thank you.

Chairman Mao: You must unite with the people.

Che Guevara: Yes, I know.

Chairman Mao: You must serve the people.

Che Guevara: Yes, I know.

Chairman Mao: You must not be afraid of difficulties.

Che Guevara: Yes, I know.

Chairman Mao: You must not be afraid of sacrifice.

Che Guevara: Yes, I know.

Chairman Mao: You must be brave.

Che Guevara: Yes, I know.

Chairman Mao: You must be determined.

Che Guevara: Yes, I know.

Chairman Mao: You must be persistent.

Che Guevara: Yes, I know.

Chairman Mao: You will succeed.

Che Guevara: Thank you.

Chairman Mao: I wish you success.

Che Guevara: Thank you.

Chairman Mao: I wish the Cuban people success.

Che Guevara: Thank you.

Chairman Mao: I wish the Latin American people success.

Che Guevara: Thank you.

Chairman Mao: I wish the world’s people success.

Che Guevara: Thank you.

Chairman Mao: Do you have any questions?

Che Guevara: I have no questions.

Chairman Mao: You are very tired.

Che Guevara: No, I am not tired.

Chairman Mao: You have come a long way.

Che Guevara: Yes, I have come a long way.

Chairman Mao: You must rest.

Che Guevara: Yes, I will rest.

Chairman Mao: You must take care of your health.

Che Guevara: Yes, I will take care of my health.

Chairman Mao: You are very important.

Che Guevara: Thank you.

Chairman Mao: You are a treasure.

Che Guevara: Thank you.

Chairman Mao: You are a treasure of the Cuban people.

Che Guevara: Thank you.

Chairman Mao: You are a treasure of the Latin American people.

Che Guevara: Thank you.

Chairman Mao: You are a treasure of the world’s people.

Che Guevara: Thank you.

Chairman Mao: I am very happy to see you.

Che Guevara: I am very happy to see you.

Chairman Mao: I hope you will come to China again.

Che Guevara: I will come to China again.

Chairman Mao: I hope you will come to China often.

Che Guevara: I will come to China often.

Chairman Mao: I hope you will come to China to teach us.

Che Guevara: I will come to China to teach you.

Chairman Mao: I hope you will come to China to help us.

Che Guevara: I will come to China to help you.

Chairman Mao: I hope you will come to China to work with us.

Che Guevara: I will come to China to work with you.

Chairman Mao: I hope you will come to China to live with us.

Che Guevara: I will come to China to live with you.

Chairman Mao: You are welcome.

Che Guevara: Thank you.

Chairman Mao: You are very welcome.

Che Guevara: Thank you.

Chairman Mao: You are very, very welcome.

Che Guevara: Thank you.

Chairman Mao: Goodbye.

Che Guevara: Goodbye.

(End of conversation)

Present:

Comrade Wang Hairong (Note-taker)
Comrade Xu Jianguo
Comrade Huang Kecheng