1.
CU President Carter reading in English. (2 SHOTS)
1.36

2.
SV People queuing for newspapers in Peking, with music and Chinese commentary.
1.46

3.
SV & CU People reading newspapers in street.
2.10

4.
GV INTERIOR Newsmen gathered at Chairman Hua Kuo-feng's news conference in Peking.
2.18

5.
CU Chairman Hua speaking in Chinese with journalists listening and writing. (3 SHOTS)
2.46

6.
SV Chairman Hua seated with journalists, and rises to leave. (2 SHOTS)
3.00


TRANSCRIPT: SEQ. 1: CARTER: "The United States of America and the People's Republic of China have agreed to recognise each other and to establish diplomatic relations as of January the first 1979. The United States recognises the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China. Within this context the people of the United States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan. The United States of America and the People's Republic of China reaffirm the principles agreed on by the two sides in the Shanghai communique of 1972 and emphasise once again that both sides with to reduce the danger of international military conflict. Neither should seek hegemony, that is the dominance of the nation over others, in the Asia Peking region or in any other region of the world, and each is opposed to efforts by any other country or groups of countries to establish such hegemony. The Government of the United States of America acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China, and Taiwan is part of China. Both believe that normalisation of Sino-American relations is not only in the interests of the Chinese and American people, but also contributes to the cause of peace in Asia and in the world."




Initials JS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: United States President Carter's surprise announcement of a renewal of full diplomatic relations with China was seen as an important step in healing the 29-year split between the two powers. Relations between them began to warm under President Nixon. In 1971, the year of 'ping-pong diplomacy', a United States table tennis team entered China accompanied by journalists. The process started then, climaxed with President Carter's announcement on Friday (15 December).

SYNOPSIS: The people of China reacted enthusiastically to the news, and queued for newspapers to learn more. Newspapers in Peking were printed in bright red print making it a red letter day. Loudspeakers blared the news here in Tien an Men square as elsewhere in China. One million extra copies of the People's Daily were avidly read. There were no reports from the People's Republic of China of negative reactions to the announcement.

In Peking's great hall of the People, Communist Party Chairman and Premier Hua Kuo-feng read the joint China-United States communique at a 30-minute news conference. It was the first meeting for many years between a Chinese leader and local and foreign journalists. He said both sides put up differing views during the negotiations leading up to the announcement. It was widely believed that the communique was completed only days before it was read out simultaneously in Peking and Washington.

An area of difference between the two countries involves the sale of arms by the United States to Taiwan. Nevertheless, Premier Hua said, they reached complete agreement on their communique.