(Not reviewed by Chairman Mao)

(February 28, 1969)

Time: 10:40 p.m., February 28, 1969
Location: Room 118, Great Hall of the People
Participants:
Guinean side – Head of Delegation Enfamara Keita, members Ander Sasson, Barry Ibrahima Sila, I. D. Renouard, Ambassador to China Sékou Camara
Chinese side – Zhou Enlai, Li Xiannian
Interpreter: Qi Zonghua
Recorder: Xiao Xinwen

Chairman Mao: How long have you been here?
Head of Delegation Enfamara Keita (hereafter Keita): A week. We arrived last Saturday.
Chairman Mao: Today is Friday. Have all your discussions concluded?
Keita: All concluded, and they went very well.
Chairman Mao: They went very well. (Turning to Premier Zhou) Who from the Ministry of Foreign Trade took part?
Premier Zhou: Originally it was Li Qiang. Later he had other matters, so Lin Haiyun participated.
Chairman Mao: You are all young people.
Keita: Yes, thank you very much.
Chairman Mao: A young nation, young cadres. Our country is also a young nation, but some of our cadres are too old, like me.
Keita: You have struggled for a long time, but Chairman Mao, you appear to be in very good health, which makes us all very happy. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for Chairman Mao taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with us. Our entire delegation is very pleased, and I personally am very pleased as well. This is my third visit to China, and I have met the Chairman each time. In 1960, I accompanied President Sékou Touré to China and met the Chairman. In 1962, I met the Chairman again in Shanghai. This time, I have come to China under a commission. I believe the Chairman is probably already aware of the detailed circumstances. Here in China, we have jointly studied a number of issues. All the requests we made were agreed to, and this visit of mine has concluded successfully. I am very satisfied with this visit. We held very friendly and very frank talks with Premier Zhou. During these talks, we exchanged views on current issues, discussing world issues, issues concerning Africa, and issues concerning Guinea. I greatly appreciate what Premier Zhou said during our talks. Upon my return, I will certainly report everything fully and faithfully to the President and the Political Bureau. Of course, what gives us the greatest satisfaction is being able to meet Chairman Mao once again at the end of this visit. Personally, I have already had this honor twice before. For the other members, they have never met Chairman Mao. All of Guinea knows Chairman Mao. Chairman Mao is a towering figure renowned throughout the world. Whether it is Chairman Mao's writings or Chairman Mao's revolutionary practice and Mao Zedong Thought, the people of Guinea are all aware of them. The comrades in the delegation would have been very dissatisfied not to meet Chairman Mao; having met him, they consider this visit perfect.
Chairman Mao: Would you introduce the members of the delegation?
Keita: This is Mr. Ander Sasson, manager of Guinea's largest import company.
That man is Mr. Barry Ibrahima Sila, deputy manager of our enterprise, a young cadre who just graduated from the engineering and technical school last year. Because he is young, I am cultivating him administratively. He greatly admires Chairman Mao.
Another one also graduated from the engineering and technical school; he is the deputy manager of Guinea's match and cigarette factory. This factory was built with China's help.
I myself can be said to have completed this political mission. After I return, my colleagues will stay to work with the relevant Chinese companies to concretely implement the decisions left from the talks.
Chairman Mao: They are staying.
Keita: I did not introduce the Ambassador just now, because he has already been in China for three years. The Ambassador will be returning home soon. After returning, he will jointly take charge of trade issues with me and will serve as Minister of Domestic Trade. He has represented Guinea as Ambassador in China for the past few years. We hope that after he returns, he will act as China's ambassador in Guinea. In what sense is this meant? It means he can bring China's experience back to Guinea.
Chairman Mao: China's experience has two aspects. On the one hand, there is the good, and on the other hand, not all of it is necessarily good. Some can serve as reference, and some may not necessarily suit conditions in your country.
Keita: Correct.
Chairman Mao: Your neighbor Mali, are your relations with them somewhat better now?
Keita: No. The coup in Mali was orchestrated by French imperialism, with the participation of U.S. imperialism. It is still unclear what new policy Mali is adopting now. The overall situation is leaning left. Rifts are appearing within both the military and government personnel. We will continue to observe this situation.
Chairman Mao: Do you still have personnel and commercial exchanges?
Keita: We have almost no political relations now. They have proposed whether our two countries should establish bilateral relations. Because we are geographically neighbors, we are bound to have bilateral relations. This issue involves not just our country alone, but also the "Organization of Senegal River Basin States," composed of Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea, and Mali. One thing is certain now: the President of Ivory Coast is connected to the Malian coup. The President of Ivory Coast himself said that he originally wanted to draw Keita (note: referring to the Malian president) over, but Keita ignored him and leaned towards Guinea. Under these circumstances, the President of Ivory Coast said: Forget it, if French imperialism and U.S. imperialism bring you down, then fall; you deserve it if you fall. Ivory Coast originally wanted to turn Mali into a market for Ivory Coast's goods. Now there are also differing opinions within Mali. One faction believes Mali should join the "Entente Council" led by Ivory Coast, while another faction believes it should consider relations with the other countries along the Senegal River.
Chairman Mao: Does the "Entente Council" cover the whole of Africa?
Keita: It includes Ivory Coast, Niger, Upper Volta, Dahomey, and others, all former French territories. Recently, Senegalese President Senghor sent representatives to contact our country, first to Guinea and then to Mali. After we came to China this time, we heard that Senghor announced in Senegal that the "Organization of Senegal River Basin States" is preparing to meet. It appears that Mali currently still leans towards remaining in this organization. Our general position is that as long as the issue of the "Organization of Senegal River Basin States," formed by our four countries, is not resolved, we are not prepared to discuss establishing bilateral relations with Mali. That is the general situation; the situation over there is not very clear.
Chairman Mao: (Turning to Premier Zhou) What about relations with our country?
Premier Zhou: Maintaining the status quo. Our aid is still continuing, and they still ask us for things. They have not adopted the approach that Ghana took.
Keita: We have analyzed how the situation in Mali came about and have reached several explanations, which may not be correct, and we may not have a unified opinion domestically on this interpretation. One point is agreed: the Malian leaders made a mistake. They issued their own currency and wanted complete economic independence. Then difficulties arose, and eventually they went back to the franc zone. This gave France an excuse; France used their difficulties to strangle them.
We believe that domestic enemies within Mali also fully exploited the economic difficulties that appeared in Mali to shape public opinion.
Chairman Mao: Is Guinea considered part of the French Community?
Keita: No, it left long ago.
Premier Zhou: It tricked de Gaulle, first saying it would join, then at the time of the referendum, it withdrew from the French Community, which made de Gaulle very angry.
Keita: Sometimes the political choices made are correct, but sacrifices often have to be made when taking that path. When the people do not understand, they often cannot accept it and become dissatisfied with the government, and the government comes under pressure. The people often compare their own country to other former colonial countries. These countries appear economically prosperous on the surface, but actually the common people do not enjoy that prosperity. Our country's choice to follow the socialist path involves this kind of danger: the choice made is correct, but a certain price must be paid. The enemies exploit our difficulties. Therefore, providing economic aid to a country like ours helps us fight imperialism. Nevertheless, we believe that looking at the current situation, Mali still has hope. In the future, Mali will return to its original stance. There are progressive forces domestically, and we place our hopes on the progressive forces.
Chairman Mao: Please convey my regards to the President when you return.
Keita: Thank you very much.
Chairman Mao: Are there any other countries that disregard the French Community?
Keita: Truly independent, there is only our one country. Other countries either belong to the franc zone or the sterling zone. Liberia belongs to the dollar zone. Truly independent in terms of currency, and politically independent, there is only Guinea alone. So the imperialists threaten us, saying: Mali has already fallen, now it's Guinea's turn. (Chairman Mao laughs)
So our Political Bureau decided to send a friendship delegation to visit friendly countries to explain the current situation. Of course, we will resist. This struggle still relies on our own people, on their vigilance and their determination to oppose imperialism. But if friendly countries can assist us during our economic difficulties, it will also help us better unite the people and further develop the struggle against colonialism. That is the mission of our delegation. To repeat once more, we are very satisfied with this visit. If it is said that contradictions exist among imperialists – they are united in their exploitation of the people – progressive nations often lack a common strategy in aiding these people. For example, Congo (Kinshasa) was liberated from imperialism, but problems arose in the end. So the situation must be clearly explained to friendly nations. Why wait until new regimes have collapsed to express regret? It is better to engage in the common struggle. So we must study this issue, and study it together with all progressive forces. That is, how to organize the struggle against imperialism together. Not just organizing Guinea's struggle against imperialism, but organizing the entire Africa's struggle against imperialism. This is a question of common interest. Chairman Mao has said that every progressive step in Africa is an achievement for China. Just as every progressive step in China is also an achievement in our common struggle against the enemy.
Chairman Mao: You are right. Let's conclude our discussion here today!
Premier Zhou: The Ambassador is here to bid farewell, a farewell before returning home. This is precisely an opportunity.
Ambassador Camara: I would also like to formally express my gratitude here. Over the past three years working in China, I have received tremendous help from Chinese leadership organs at all levels, from the central government to the local level. I am very grateful. I had specifically requested to meet Chairman Mao before returning home. Meeting Chairman Mao makes my three years of work in China even more complete. The Premier said this is precisely an opportunity. I have been very satisfied during my three years in China. Over these three years, the development of cooperation between our two countries has been excellent. In the future, as the Head of Delegation said, after I return to Guinea, I will continue to struggle and work, and will strive to further consolidate the friendly relations between the peoples and governments of our two countries. I understand more than others that our two countries share common interests in the struggle. In the future, back in Guinea, I will continue to act as China's ambassador in Guinea. Finally, I wish Chairman Mao good health in leading the great revolutionary cause of the Chinese people! Under Chairman Mao's leadership, the Chinese people have achieved great successes, and also great successes in the Great Cultural Revolution, all of which I have witnessed with my own eyes. I wish Chairman Mao everlasting good health! Leading China continuously forward. China should become an example for the people of the whole world. Chairman Mao is the leader in the hearts of the revolutionary people of the whole world.

Thanks to Visarion for collection and organization.