Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c14.s2.t3.1

v2.c14.s2.t3.1

After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, India was the first non-socialist country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China on April 1, 1950. In September 1948, the Northeast Field Army of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army started the Liaoxi-Shenyang Campaign and it was promising to win soon. Therefrom, India began to adjust its policy towards China. India was also the first non-socialist country to establish an embassy in the People’s Republic of China. On October 5, 1948, the then Bureau Chief of the Hong Kong Branch of the Xinhua News Agency, Qiao Guanhua sent a request by telegram to the CPC Central Committee on the Indian Embassy Councillor Ismail's wish to visit the liberated areas. Guanghua mentioned that the Indian Embassy Councillor-Ismail had sent an emissary to enquire regarding Chinese reaction to the Indian side sending people to the liberated areas. Ismail hoped that a visit to the liberated areas will lay the foundation for establishing diplomatic relations between the liberated areas and India in future. In April 1949, the President of People's Liberation Army occupied the Nanjing Presidential Palace. The personnel under the nationalist government retreated southward to Guangzhou. The Indian Embassy in China did not follow but they prepared an inventory of embassy personnel and property and sent to the People's Government for record.