SECRET

MPR Embassy in the Soviet Union
April 12, 1979 Moscow

TO THE ACTING HEAD OF THE MPRP FOREIGN AFFAIRS
DEPARTMENT COMRADE SH. DAGVA

Memorandum of conversation

On response to the invitation

In accordance with an appointment, I met with the First Deputy Head of the USSR CC International Department [sic] O.B. Rakhmanin at his office on April 10, 1979 at 12pm.

During the meeting O.B. Rakhmanin mentioned the following points:

[…]

- With regard to the proposal mentioned in the Chinese government memorandum on high-level talks, put forward when [the Chinese] raised the question of canceling the Sino-Soviet treaty of friendship, alliance and mutual help, one can respond to this at some level if the Sino-Vietnamese situation does not become especially sharp.

[…]

- Because the question of whether to still consider the PRC a socialist state, and the CCP – a communist party, is not only a theoretical but also a practical question, I have sent sufficient material on this question to c. Dashtseren. I think the MPRP Central Committee can study the actual situation in this regard and express its opinion at the next meeting.

- There is information that the negotiations between Vietnam and China, which will begin on the 14th, will take place in extremely difficult conditions, and that the Chinese are preparing to put up, as their main condition, the question of the “disputed territory” and the take-over of the Paracel islands.

- The USSR will not reduce aid to fraternal Vietnam, but will preserve it at the current level, and it will remain as our central aim to remain vigilant and to be prepared to deal a blow to any Chinese provocation.

[…]