Minutes of Chairman Mao Zedong’s Conversation with Nehru at the Banquet Hosted by the Indian Ambassador

(not yet reviewed)

Time: 21 October 1954, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm

Place: Xinqiao Hotel

Interpreter and note taker:  Pu Shouchang

The Chairman tells Nehru: On the question of cooperation, our experience is that cooperation, whether between persons, political parties, or countries, has to be mutually beneficial and should not be detrimental to any side involved. If any side’s interests are hurt, cooperation cannot be sustained. That is why “equality and mutual benefit” is one of our Five Principles.

Nehru repeatedly says “yes, yes.”

The Chairman mentions that all matters have multiple dimensions. The Chairman says that Mencius, one of the sages of ancient China, once said, “Non-uniformity is the nature of things and human life.” That is to say, diversity is the reality of the world. Marxism also recognizes diversity, which differs from the views of metaphysics.

Nehru does not make any response.

The Chairman says to Nehru: Countries, especially friendly countries, should not guard against each other. The mutual vigilance between China and the United States is not a good thing.

Nehru replies: In actuality, the technology used in modern warfare has made alertness in guarding one’s own borders meaningless.

Finally, the Chairman tells Nehru: We have positioned only a small number of troops in Tibet. Altogether, the troops in Ü-Tsang are only a little over 10,000. There are also a little more than 10,000 troops near Changdu [Qamdo]. They are there for road construction. When the road is built, they will leave.

Nehru does not make any response.

Ambassador [Nedyam] Raghavan says: What China does in Tibet is China’s own business. India trusts China. He also says that when he was appointed as the ambassador to China, Nehru instructed him to trust China just as China trusts India.

The Chairman says: Yes, we trust India. With India there, we can sleep well.