Zhou Enlai Biography and Timeline — Page 2

Drafting the Common Program

Helps guide drafting of the Common Program that defines the new state's initial political and foreign-policy framework.

Sino-Soviet Treaty

Participates in negotiations leading to the Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance with the Soviet Union.

Role range: 1949-1976

Korean War Policy Deliberations

Participates in senior Chinese decision-making as Beijing prepares to intervene in the Korean War.

Role range: 1949-1976

UN Security Council Delegation

Supports sending a Chinese delegation to the United Nations Security Council to present Beijing's positions.

Role range: 1949-1976

Korean Armistice Diplomacy

Takes direct responsibility for Chinese policy as Korean armistice negotiations begin.

Role range: 1949-1976

Diplomatic Service Principles

Sets organisational and professional guidelines for the new Chinese diplomatic service.

Role range: 1949-1958

First Five-Year Plan Drafting

Leads work on drafting China's first Five-Year Plan as economic planning becomes a major state priority.

Role range: 1949-1976

Korean Armistice

Oversees Chinese policy as the Korean Armistice Agreement ends major fighting on the peninsula.

Role range: 1949-1976

Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence

Presents principles of sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference, equality, mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence during talks with Indian representatives.

Role range: 1949-1976

Geneva Conference Opens

Heads the Chinese delegation when the Geneva Conference opens to discuss Korea and Indochina.

Role range: 1949-1976

Geneva Korean Negotiations

Participates in international negotiations on the unresolved Korean question at Geneva.

Role range: 1949-1976

Geneva Indochina Negotiations

Works with Asian and European delegations on a negotiated settlement of the Indochina conflict.

Role range: 1949-1976

Visit to Burma

Meets Burmese leaders and advocates the Five Principles as a basis for relations between states.

Role range: 1949-1976

Visit to India

Meets Jawaharlal Nehru and promotes the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in bilateral relations.

Role range: 1949-1976

Liuzhou Talks on Indochina

Meets Vietnamese leaders to discuss negotiating positions for a settlement at the Geneva Conference.

Role range: 1949-1976

Geneva Agreements on Indochina

Concludes the Geneva phase after extensive Chinese diplomacy supporting negotiated ceasefires in Indochina.

Role range: 1949-1976

Bandung Conference

Heads China's delegation to the Asian-African Conference and promotes cooperation among newly independent states.

Role range: 1949-1976

Offer of Talks with United States

States that China is willing to negotiate with the United States to reduce tension in the Far East.

Role range: 1949-1976

Bandung Common Ground Diplomacy

Advocates seeking common ground while reserving differences during talks with Asian and African delegations.

Role range: 1949-1976

Bandung Conference Report

Reports on the Bandung Conference and discusses peaceful approaches to tensions over Taiwan.

Role range: 1949-1976

Sino-American Ambassadorial Talks

Directs Chinese policy as ambassadorial-level talks with the United States begin in Geneva.

Role range: 1949-1976

Visit to India

Returns to India for high-level talks on Asian affairs and bilateral relations.

Role range: 1949-1976

Visit to Pakistan

Visits Pakistan as part of a wider Asian diplomatic tour.

Role range: 1949-1976

Visit to Hungary

Visits Hungary and argues that relations among socialist states should respect principles of sovereign equality.

Role range: 1949-1976

Visit to Poland

Visits Poland and discusses relations among socialist states after the political crises of 1956.

Role range: 1949-1976

Visit to Soviet Union

Visits the Soviet Union during efforts to manage tensions within the socialist bloc.

Role range: 1949-1976

Foreign Minister Tenure

Relinquishes the foreign minister portfolio while remaining premier and a central figure in foreign policy.

Role range: 1949-1976

Taiwan Strait Diplomacy

Directs diplomatic policy during renewed military tension in the Taiwan Strait.

Role range: 1949-1976

Warsaw Ambassadorial Talks

Guides China's position as Sino-American ambassadorial contacts shift from Geneva to Warsaw.

Role range: 1949-1976

Sino-Indian Border Talks

Meets Jawaharlal Nehru in New Delhi for extensive but inconclusive discussions of the disputed Himalayan border.

Role range: 1949-1976

China-Burma Boundary Agreement

Helps conclude a boundary settlement with Burma as part of China's effort to resolve frontier disputes by negotiation.

Role range: 1949-1976

Economic Readjustment

Supports state efforts to restore production and administrative stability after the severe disruption of the Great Leap Forward.

Role range: 1949-1976

Laos Conference Diplomacy

Supports negotiations seeking a neutral settlement of the conflict in Laos.

Role range: 1949-1976

Sino-Indian Ceasefire Policy

Participates in the Chinese government's decision to announce a unilateral ceasefire in the border war with India.

Role range: 1949-1976

Sino-Indian Border Correspondence

Exchanges proposals with Indian leaders over the disputed border as military tension increases.

Role range: 1949-1976

Talks with Gamal Abdel Nasser

Discusses regional affairs, Sino-Indian relations and wider international issues with President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Role range: 1949-1976

Visit to Algeria

Visits Algeria during China's expanding diplomatic engagement with newly independent African states.

Role range: 1949-1976

Diplomatic Relations with France

Helps establish full diplomatic relations between China and France.

Role range: 1949-1976

Eight Principles of Foreign Aid

Sets out principles stressing equality, mutual benefit and respect for sovereignty in Chinese foreign assistance.

Role range: 1949-1976

Visit to Ethiopia

Visits Ethiopia and meets national leaders during the African diplomatic tour.

Role range: 1949-1976