CGTN America
President Nixon shaking hands with Chou EnLai standing at the foot of the Air Force One stair ramp, while Pat Nixon and Chinese officials stand nearby, February 21, 1972, symbolically ending 17 years of Sino-American tension.
It is now 50 years since former U.S. President Richard Nixon made his historic visit to China in February 1972.
He was welcomed to Beijing by Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and Nixon also met with Chairman Mao Zedong.
The high-stakes engagement would lead to the U.S. and China establishing full diplomatic relations in 1979. And, despite current challenges to the China-U.S relationship, the impact of the momentous week still resonates today.
To discuss:
- Winston Lord was Special Assistant to former National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger and he later served as U.S. Ambassador to China.
- Max Baucus is former U.S. Ambassador to China
- Chas Freeman was principal American interpreter during the visit.
- Victor Gao is Chair Professor at Soochow University.
- Yukon Huang is Senior Fellow for the Carnegie Asia Program.
For More:
Fifty years ago, Richard Nixon became the first U.S. president to visit the People's Republic of China since its founding. What can be learned from his historic visit? Its participants and scholars on China-U.S. relations speaking exclusively to Xinhua https://t.co/8YXt3qyESC pic.twitter.com/Ch9n95sh4j
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) February 21, 2022
On the eve of the 50th anniversary of President Richard Nixon's historic visit, veteran #US diplomats relive the heady days of the 1970s' rapprochement between their country and #China. https://t.co/Tk9LhoU3E9
— China Daily (@ChinaDaily) February 21, 2022
At the height of the Cold War, 50 years ago, U.S. President Nixon flew into communist China’s center of power to meet Chairman Mao, a visit that would transform China’s global position. Seesaw relations between the two nations are more fraught than ever. https://t.co/2fX3mndxh9
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 21, 2022
Winston Lord, special assistant to then-National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger, reflects on his role in the historic 1972 trip to China with former US president Richard Nixon. pic.twitter.com/7pAWtbnBuK
— South China Morning Post (@SCMPNews) February 16, 2022
When President Nixon made his historic visit to China, he brought cases of California-based Schramsberg sparkling wine to toast the Chinese leader. https://t.co/D0xln24sWH
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 21, 2022
When US President Richard Nixon walked down the red-carpeted stairs from Air Force One to shake hands with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai in Beijing on February 21, 1972, it was hailed by many as a world-changing gesture.https://t.co/oV7zoV0wX0
— CNN International (@cnni) February 21, 2022
