Interview: 'It began with a secret trip by Kissinger and myself'

Winston Lord, the U.S. ambassador to China from 1985–1989, played an important early role in the restoration of diplomatic relations between the United States and China in the early 1970s. As a member of the planning staff of the U.S. National Security Council and special assistant to National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger, Lord accompanying the famed statesman on his secret trip to Beijing in 1971 and was he part of the U.S. delegation during President Richard Nixon's historic visit to China the following year. Lord, 84, spoke to Rita Cheng of RFA's Mandarin Service on the 50th anniversary of Nixon's Feb. 21-28, 1972 visit to China. Following are excerpts of the interview.

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