In 1982, the supreme leader of the Soviet Union, Leonid Brezhnev, died. The sudden death of the top leader of a superpower has created a dilemma for China's top brass: whether China should attend the funeral, and who should it send?
**After learning the news, after some thought, it was finally decided to send Huang Hua to the Soviet Union to attend Brezhnev's funeral.
This incident caused an international uproar, because China and the Soviet Union had not had personnel exchanges for nearly 20 years. So in this case, why did you send Huang Hua to attend the funeral? What's the meaning behind it?
**。In Brezhnev's life, every life resume was colorful.
Born in 1906 in Carmenskoye, after graduating from secondary school he entered a metallurgical plant as a factory employee and then joined the Komsomol League. After becoming a member of the Soviet Party, he began a life of three points and one line, working at metallurgical plants during the day and studying at the academy at night.
This life lasted for almost a year, and after graduating from the academy, he was assigned to the local government. From this moment on, Brezhnev began his extraordinary political career.
He served as a minister, a member of the Youth League Committee, a state party committee, a political commissar, a major general, a lieutenant general, and then rose all the way to the Soviet Union, where he was deeply appreciated by Stalin when he served as the secretary of the Soviet Union.
Stalin. In 1964, Khrushchev stepped down from the political scene, and the Soviet Union's top leaders, the parties led by Suslov and Shelepin, reached a stalemate over the leadership seat, and the Soviet top brass tried to avoid the bad influence of losing both.
So, Brezhnev was elected supreme leader of the Soviet Union.
During his reign, the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union was at its most intense, so Brezhnev concentrated on military and economic development.
Brezhnev.
By the beginning of the 70s, the military power of the United States and the Soviet Union was basically balanced, and for some time to come, it developed in favor of the Soviet Union.
During this period, the Soviet Union began economic reforms, decentralizing power to enterprises, allowing enterprises to distribute employees according to work; We should continue to increase economic investment in agriculture, increase the purchase of agricultural and sideline products, and mobilize the peasants' enthusiasm for production.
Brezhnev.
These actions contributed to the continuous improvement of the living standards of the Soviet people in all aspects during this period. With cars and water dispensers everywhere on the streets, people on beach vacations in casual clothes, and society is getting better.
Until the XXI century, according to Russian research agencies, in the hearts of Russians, Leonid Brezhnev took the top spot as the most popular former leader.
This survey shows Brezhnev's position in the hearts of the Russians.
Brezhnev.
At the end of the sixties of the twentieth century, when the economic crisis broke out in the United States, Brezhnev took advantage of this excellent opportunity to continuously expand the influence of the Soviet Union in the world.
First of all, he adjusted the policy of the Khrushchev period, began a new reform, and comprehensively implemented a new economic system in the Soviet Union, emphasizing democracy and the rule of law.
Subsequently, in order to consolidate its control over the countries of Eastern Europe, the "Treaties of Friendship and Cooperation" were signed with 12 countries, which brought the influence of the Soviet Union to its peak.
As everyone knows, the whole world was still in the midst of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union during this period, and the United States implemented a policy of economic containment against the communist bloc, especially the Soviet Union. And the fact that the USSR was able to reach its peak at this time is enough to prove how tough Brezhnev's wrists were.
Truman. However, Sino-Soviet relations during this period were far less harmonious and friendly than those under Stalin. However, on the other hand, the relationship between China and the United States has gradually deteriorated due to the events on the Korean Peninsula during the Truman era.
But when Nixon took office, he began to try to repair relations between the two countries.
** Meet Nixon.
In order to better demonstrate his sincerity, Nixon arranged Kissinger's secret visit to China in July 1971.
Kissinger expressed his gratitude for the hospitality and hoped that the same hospitality would be done in the United States
**Respond with a smile:
"I haven't been to the U.S., I've never been to the Western Hemisphere, but we work at the same time, you guys during the day and I'm at night. ”
**。After delivering his speech, Kissinger began to express his desire to hope that China and the United States would carry out cordial and friendly exchanges and cooperation. **Reply, that's what we're expecting, too.
This visit to China is of great significance to the future development of China and the United States, as it has successfully eased tensions between China and the United States and laid the foundation for Nixon's visit to China in the coming year.
However, it was not until Kissinger's visit to China was successful that the news reached Brezhnev's ears.
As a country with one of the world's largest intelligence agencies, Brezhnev was furious when he got this information, and asked Andropov why he only got this information now.
Andropov.
So why didn't Andropov find out about Kissinger's visit to China in time?
Born into a family of railroad workers, Andropov lost both of his parents when he was a teenager, and in order to support himself, he began to work as a coolie, a telegraph operator, a projectionist, and a sailor, but his body was dragged down.
He knew that knowledge could change his fate, so he studied hard and was admitted to the water transport school, and after graduation, he joined the Soviet Communist Youth League.
Andropov.
During Andropov's tenure as the leader of the Soviet Union's first committee, Nixon sent Kissinger to visit China secretly, but the Soviet Union did not get any tangible information about this incident until China and the United States published news at the same time.
The reason for Kissinger's itinerary and the efforts of both China and the United States was that Kissinger flew out of Washington on July 1, 1971, arrived in Saigon, and then traveled to Pakistan for a two-day stay for academic exchanges.
In the past two days, Kissinger secretly went to Beijing, China, and was received by ***, and then secretly returned to Pakistan after the visit. This covert operation was not discovered by other countries, including the Soviet Union at the time.
Kissinger. In February 1972, Nixon's visit to China was successful, which broke the situation of more than 20 years of isolation between China and the United States, and gradually normalized relations between China and the United States.
On the contrary, during Nixon's visit to China, Brezhnev was not idle, but continued to reform the Soviet Union.
He focused on the development of heavy industry, mainly the military industry, and these measures of Brezhnev were later called the Brezhnev reforms by later scholars.
West-81 Then Brezhnev invited NATO leaders to visit a large-scale military exercise, which is known as the "West-81" military exercise.
The military exercise mobilized almost the entire military reserve of the Soviet Union, gathering nearly 500,000 troops and tens of thousands of tanks. And in just 8 days, it broke through the NATO defense line, which is breathtaking.
Brezhnev attended the meeting.
In the 80s of the 20th century, relations between China and the Soviet Union began to ease. The reason for this was that on March 24, 1982, Brezhnev made a speech in which he mentioned relations with China, and the content of this speech broke the ice of the stiff Sino-Soviet relations.
After this speech, Brezhnev died suddenly. Because the funeral of the supreme leader of the Soviet Union was at stake, the top level of our country considered it for a long time and focused on the long-term overall situation of relations between the two countries. In the end, it was decided to send Huang Hua as a "special envoy" to Moscow.
Brezhnev.
When Huang Hua flew to Moscow, Beijing Airport, at the suggestion of a high-level leader, issued a written statement by Foreign Minister Huang Hua.
In this speech, we mentioned that the Chinese side highly appreciates Brezhnev, and we also speak highly of his speech before his death. The Chinese side's speech also received an enthusiastic response from the Soviet side.
After arriving in Moscow, Foreign Minister Huang Hua received a super-standard courtesy from the Soviet side, and Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Ilyichev warmly received Comrade Huang Hua and accompanied him throughout the process.
Huang Hua. When driving the vehicle out of the airport, a motorbike convoy from the Soviet side opened the way in front of it to ensure the safety of the delegation.
In order to show respect for the leaders of the former Soviet Union, countries around the world have sent high-level officials to attend the funeral and pay their respects.
Among them, not only the princes of various countries and the heads of state who hold political power, but also the heads of state attended, and the United States also sent their deputy ** to attend the funeral.
Brezhnev's funeral.
And the treatment that Huang Hua received during his time in the Soviet Union was unique among these delegations. In the Grand Kremlin, Andropov met with Comrade Huang Hua and extended a warm welcome to him.
The wreath laid by Huang Hua on behalf of China was placed in the most conspicuous position by the Soviet side at the farewell ceremony of the body.
At the memorial meeting, the four members of the Chinese delegation all stood on the viewing platform, and compared with the representatives of other countries, Comrade Huang Hua's rank was undoubtedly somewhat low.
Andropov.
However, Comrade Huang Hua was placed on the first floor on the left side of the viewing steps, and only one member of the delegations of other countries opposite him came to the stage.
From the above-mentioned treatment of China by the Soviet Union, we can see the good attitude of the Soviet side after the written statement made by the Chinese side. Moreover, both China and the Soviet Union wanted to ease relations between the two countries through this "funeral diplomacy."
Huang Hua's attendance at Brezhnev's funeral was the second time that China sent a delegation to attend the funeral of the top leader of the Soviet Union, in addition to the Chinese delegation led by *** to attend Stalin's funeral.
Stalin's funeral.
So why did *** choose Huang Hua as the envoy? And go to the USSR to mourn?
During this period, the pioneer and founder of New China's diplomacy has passed away, and there is only one person who can replace *** for this "funeral diplomacy" is Huang Hua.
**。Born in Cixian County, Hebei Province, Huang Hua organized and participated in the anti-Japanese national salvation march in Beiping in 1935, known as the 129 Movement, and joined the Chinese Communist Party the following year.
In June of the same year, he worked as an interpreter to assist foreign journalists** in covering the Soviet regions of northern Shaanxi, and this trip also allowed him to form a deep revolutionary friendship with this foreign friend.
*。But in this trip to northern Shaanxi, Huang Hua was most happy to meet ***
As a student party member, Huang Hua admires *** very much, and this trip has made him appreciated.
"Well done young people in Beijing."He also told him that the 129th Movement was the greatest mass movement since the May Fourth Movement. prompted Huang Hua to make up his mind to stay in northern Shaanxi.
**。He then began to take part in the operations of the Red Army, starting as an officer in the organization department, and later became the chief of education of the school for young cadres, during which he was industrious and dedicated. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Huang Hua entered the *** responsible for handling foreign affairs.
Under the leadership of the People's Republic of China, he has participated in many major diplomatic activities of New China. In 1954, Huang Hua served as an adviser and spokesman for the Chinese delegation and attended the Geneva Conference with ***.
**。In July 1971, under the direct leadership of **, he received Kissinger and his entourage who secretly visited China. During his tenure, he was deeply appreciated by the Chinese and made outstanding contributions to the establishment and development of China's diplomatic undertakings.
In 1976, Huang Hua became the fifth governor of the People's Republic of China, and during his tenure, he worked diligently and made great contributions to China's diplomatic cause.
In order to promote friendly relations between China and other countries, he has visited more than 30 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the United States.
The relationship between Huang Hua and *** is also very friendly, in Huang Hua's view, *** can not only profoundly expound the essence of things, decisively seize the opportunity to make judgments, but also guide the specific implementation of the work.
**。After Huang Hua returned to Beijing with a visit to France, he brought a souvenir to Comrade ***, but complained to him that he also wanted to go to ** and Hong Kong, but he could not travel for a long time due to physical discomfort. I hope that the next ** trip can call him and go together.
Huang Hua has been engaged in diplomatic work for a long time and knows the world pattern well, so he is deeply trusted, so he has also become China's first permanent representative to the United Nations and the Security Council.
Therefore, Huang Hua is the most suitable person to attend the funeral. And Huang Hua is also the highest level sent by China to the Soviet Union since his visit to the Soviet Union
Huang Hua. After Huang Hua attended Brezhnev's funeral, he contacted Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko and talked with him according to his instructions. The foreign ministers' meeting was the first meeting since the breakdown of Sino-Soviet relations, and the result of the talks was that the Chinese side received a positive response from the Soviet side, and Sino-Soviet diplomatic relations began to normalize from this time.
Andropov, who took over as the supreme leader of the Soviet Union, was very calm and pragmatic, and after taking office, he carried out a series of reforms to the stubborn problems of the Soviet system.
Gromyco. But sadly, Andropov died of health problems after less than two years in office. This time, China sent Vice Premier Wan Li to Andropov's funeral.
This "funeral diplomacy" increased exchanges between China and the Soviet Union, eased relations between China and the Soviet Union, and broke down the barriers between the two sides.
It can be seen from these "funeral diplomacys" that China's leaders have been far-sighted in their eyes on the world situation, and they have been able to see the slightest hint and keenly seize this opportunity to ease relations between the two countries and establish friendship.
Foreign Minister Huang Hua also did not live up to the trust of *** and successfully completed the task.