Document
Thursday, July 15, 1971, Announcement of Trip to China, Top Secret
Images (56)
- Parte de White House Staff Member and Office Files (Nixon Administration), President's Personal Files
Extracted text
OCR Page 1 of 56THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SECRET
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
In the spirit of our frequent consultations, I would like to share
with you some of the considerations involved in my decision to
accept the Chinese invitation to visit Peking and our recent state-
ment on United Nations policy. My hope is that we can maintain
close cooperation on these matters.
First, this decision evolves from the general policy concerning
the People's Republic of China which we have followed in my
Administration, a fact which the suddeness of the July 15
announcement should not obscure. You will recall that over the
past two years we have moved toward broadening contacts of
various kinds between the American and Chinese peoples. From
the beginning we have stated our desire to improve communica-
tions and last December, I set as our ultimate goal the normaliza-
tion of Sino-American relations. I expressed the wish earlier
this year that I might at some suitable time be able to visit China,
either as President or privately. It is in this context that
Dr. Kissinger's discussions with Chou En-lai and my forthcoming
trip should be seen, although circumstances have permitted my
visit to become possible much sooner than originally anticipated.
Secondly, my going to Peking does not, of course, rest on the
assumption that the many substantial differences which have
existed between the United States and the People's Republic of
China have been erased. There is much to be done to remove or
reduce these problems. It is my belief, however, that the visit
will benefit the cause of peace both in Asia and in the world.
This will be the underlying purpose of my journey.
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, Sect. 3.6
SECRET
8/10/71
By HLM
NARA, Date 1/14/98
Relations
belongs_to