Skip to content

China and Latin America and the Caribbean

This collection features materials on China's foreign relations with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean during the Mao period. The majority of documents are about Sino-Cuban relations and China's perspectives on the Cuban Missile Crisis. The collection includes embassy cables sent from Chinese diplomats in Latin America and records of conversation between Chinese and various leaders from the region.Image: Zhou Enlai Greeting Che Guevara.

Popular Documents

November 19, 1960

Memorandum of Conversation between Mao Zedong and Ernesto 'Che' Guevara

A diplomatic meeting of a global communist delegation. Many topics are discussed, including: the domestic situation in Cuba, especially the economic situation (for example: sugar sales); American influence and counter-revolutionaries; and comparison to the domestic situation in other Latin and Central American countries, such as: Peru, Colombia, Brazil, etc.).

October 13, 1962

Memorandum of the Conversation between China’s Ambassador to Cuba Shen Jian and Cuban Finance Minister Ernesto “Che” Guevara, Havana

A conversation between China’s Ambassador to Cuba Shen Jian and Cuban Finance Minister Ernesto “Che” Guevara. They discuss the situation of the Cuban economy given recent U.S. blockades, as well as the various situations in other countries like Yugoslavia, Argentina and Guatemala.

September 2, 1958

Mao Zedong, 'Fight for National Independence and Do Away with Blind Worship of the West'

Brazilian journalists Mariudim and Mme. Dotere speak with Mao about the prospects of stemming imperialism in Latin America, and countering Western influence. The reestablishment of diplomatic relations between China and Latin American countries, particularly Brazil, was also discussed.

April 19, 1961

Memorandum of Chairman Mao Zedong and Cuban Cultural Delegation

A diplomatic meeting between China's Chairman Mao Zedong and Cuba's Cultural Delegation Education Minister. They discuss educational and cultural affairs of both Cuba and China.

July 14, 1956

Conversation from [Mao Zedong's] Audience with Former President Árbenz of Guatemala and His Wife [Mrs. Árbenz]

Mao and Jacobo Árbenz discuss continued efforts to wage revolution in Guatemala. Topics that they touch on include: Guatemala's relations with her neighbors, Sino-Guatemalan friendship, and their common opposition to the "paper tiger" of American imperialism.