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02-15-2006 13:45

After the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949, Edgar Snow visited China three times. During one of these visits – in the autumn of 1970 – he not only worked as a journalist, reporting China’s progress and developments, he also found himself as something of a messenger, heralding the normalization of China-U.S. relations. On October 1, 1970, Snow was invited by Chairman Mao to view the National Day celebrations from the Tiananmen rostrum. This was interpreted as a signal to the world that China was willing to improve its relations with the United States. Subsequently, on February 21, 1972, U.S. President Richard Nixon began a groundbreaking visit to China, which brought to an end more than two decades of hostility between China and the United States.

Although Edgar Snow’s request to meet Henry Kissinger was rejected, by the time of President Nixon’s visit to China, Snow was being hailed by the American public as the best person to cover the historic event for his personal relations with the Chinese leaders and his in-depth insight into issues on China.

As a loyal friend of the Chinese people, Edgar Snow made a lasting contribution to the Chinese revolution. He also worked to better the American people’s understanding of a far-away country called China and to bring about the eventual normalization of Sino-U.S. relations. The year 2005 marks the centenary of Edgar Snow. Today, more than thirty years after his death, Edgar Snow's contributions to Sino-U.S. relations are still remembered. His memory lives on, as a powerful symbol of the common wish of both nations to for lasting friendship and peace.

 

Editor:Wang Ping