May 17, 1989.
Speech by M.S. [Gorbachev] at the NPC [National People’s Congress] at a meeting with representatives of the Chinese public.
Social kinship of the two great revolutions of our times. The future before us must correct the lessons [mistakes] of the past.
The rise of the ideological differences to the level of state confrontation.
New silk road [unclear].
***
Conversation with E.A. [Shevardnadze]
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Talks with Deng [Xiaoping]
C[entral] C[ommittee] Secretary Yang Minfu, old interpreter. Tito. All that was between us was blown away by the wind.
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Cancel the press-conference. 200 thousand [students] around us.
[Evgenii] Primakov: This is a revolution.
People who lived though the Cultural Revolution say that they don’t remember anything like it.
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Press-conference
Conducted by G[ennadii] I. Gerasimov
Shakhnazarov, Iakovlev, Iu. D. Masliukov, Chazov, Troianovskii, Shakhnazarov [sic]
M.S. [Gorbachev]: We became very briefly acquainted with Beijing, its sights (not a word about the demonstrations). The key moment of the visit was the meeting and the talk with Deng Xiaoping. New stage of Sino-Soviet relations. Universal principle. Neither China nor USSR should reappraise their [one word unclear]. Both of our countries consider peace and development to be the most important principles of existence.
***
There is a list in line with the classic scheme. Statement at the press-conference. Sino-Soviet economic ties. Energy. Metallurgy. Transport. Production of consumer goods.
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The people of science and culture who came with us hold the same opinion.
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Exchanged opinions on the state of affairs in the [Soviet] Union.
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Great China Wall [in English in the original]
Two meetings with the youth of China. As if there were no thirty years [of confrontation].
- Did you see the students? [Question to Gorbachev]
- I received a very warm letter from them. In a TV interview I thanked them and all who, during these days [end of sentence]. I value their position.
[this is followed by several questions from the media and some of Gorbachev’s answers at the press conference]