Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c14.s4.t17: Zhou Enlai

Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c14.s4.t17

Language: English

Zhou Enlai

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Zhou Enlai (March 5 1898-January 8, 1976), was a Chinese revolutionist, politician, militarist and diplomatist, principal leader of the Communist Party of China and People’s Republic of China,

main founder and leader of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. He was born in Huai’an City (present-day Huai’an District, Huai’an City), Jiangsu Province. He was formerly called Fei Fei, Wu Hao, Shao Shan or Guan Sheng. He was the Premier of the State Council of the PRC (the Government Administration Council between October 1949 and

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Zhou Enlai on his visit to India

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September 1954) and concurrent Foreign Minister.

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Zhou Enlai made tremendous contributions to the establishment of diplomatic relations and relationship between China and India. On January 4, 1950, he replied a telegram to the then Indian Prime Minister and concurrent Foreign Minister Jawaharlal Nehru about the matters concerning the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and China proposed on December 30, 1949. He noted in the telegram that the People’s Republic of China and the Central People’s Government are ready to establish diplomatic relations with India on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect for territorial sovereignty. The two countries formally established diplomatic relations on April 1, 1950.

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Between December 31, 1953 and April 29, 1954, the Chinese government and Indian government held negotiations on the questions of Tibet and India-China relations in Beijing. When meeting the mission of the Indian government, he put forward the basic principles for dealing with relations between states, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence: mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. These five principles were later written into the preface of ‘*The Agreement between the Republic of India and the People’s Republic of China on Trade and Intercourse between India and the Tibet Region of China*’.

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Between April and July 1954, Zhou Enlai led a mission to attend the Geneva Conference. He emphasised many times the role of Asian countries including China and India in solving Asian issues in his speech delivered at the conference. He visited India for the first time on June 25-28. During his visit, he had six formal talks with Nehru and the two countries issued a joint communique reiterating the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in guiding bilateral relations. Between October 19 and 30, 1954, Nehru paid his first visit to China. Zhou Enlai took charge of the reception and held four talks with Nehru. They compared notes on the issues of mutual concerns in promoting peace movement, Taiwan question and Asian-African Conference, which enhanced the mutual understanding and friendship between leaders of both countries.

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In April 1955, he participated in the Asian-Pacific Conference in the capacity of the Premier of the State Council of the PRC and concurrent Foreign Minister of China and the chief representative of the Chinese government. At the conference, he made a written statement and described in detail the importance of strengthening the Asian-African peoples' alliance, ending colonialism and safeguarding world peace. He also put forward the meeting guideline of "seeking common ground while shelving differences" and advocacy of mutual solidarity among Asian and African countries.

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Between November 28 and December 10, 1956, he visited India again. During this visit, he delivered a speech at the joint conference held between the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha of the Republic of India and held talks with Nehru on Indo-China border issues. He also visited Delhi, Mumbai, Madras, Calcutta, among other cities. In his speech made at the Indian National Congress, he acknowledged and placed high hopes on India-China friendship and unity and clarified China's stance and standpoints in the international situation. He also made a special trip to Mumbai, the hometown of a great internationalist fighter Kwarkanath S. Kotnis and delivered a speech at the welcoming meeting of the public corporation of the city of Mumbai and appreciated the Kwarkanath S. Kotnis couple and the Indian National Congress Medical Mission to China for their support to the Chinese people. During his stay in Calcutta, he visited Visva-Bharati University and spoke highly of Rabindranath Tagore. He said, "Tagore is not only a talented poet who has made outstanding contributions to the world literature but also an outstanding representative of the great Indian people hating darkness and fighting for light". He also praised Tagore's love and support to the Chinese people in the bitter struggle for national independence. He also accepted the Honorary Doctorate Degree given by Visva-Bharati University during his trip.

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In 1959, he wrote several letters to Nehru to clarify China's stand, attitude and policy on the border issues and situation between China and India and expressed his wish of solving border issues across the board through friendly negotiations. He also raised relevant suggestions on behalf of the Chinese government.

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Between April 19-26, 1960, he visited India which was also his last visit to the country. During this visit, he met the Indian President Rajendra Prasad and had several talks with Nehru. Both sides exchanged views on the border issues and relations between the two countries. Later, the two countries issued the '*Joint Communique between Chinese and Indian Premiers*'.