Declassified Transcript: Mao Zedong meets Richard Nixon, February 21, 1972

Declassified transcript of the Beijing meeting between China's leader and America's. It took place in Chairman Mao's living quarters. Nixon's visit was the first time a U.S. president had visited the PRC, and his arrival in Beijing ended 25 years of no communication or diplomatic ties between the two countries. Nixon visited the PRC to gain more leverage over relations with the Soviet Union, following the Sino-Soviet split. The normalization of ties culminated in 1979, when the U.S. transferred diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing and established full relations with the PRC.

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