In China's diplomatic vocabulary, there is a special title: "an old friend of the people of China".

Southern Weekend reporters searched People's Daily from 1949 to 20 10, and made statistics, and found the answers to the following questions: Who is the old friend of China people officially recognized by China? Why are they among the old friends? How did the government and people of China maintain their friendship?

From the change of "the old friend of China people", we can also get a glimpse of the diplomatic track of the new China.

Anti-imperialism, anti-colonization and anti-aggression in the early years are the basis for identifying "old friends". And "as China's diplomacy continues to be pragmatic, the meaning of the word' old friend' has gradually faded".

An old friend of the people of China. (Liang Weichi/Figure)

Frequency of "Old Friends of China People" Over the Years

Ten countries with the largest number of "old friends of China people"

Ranking of "old friends" mentioned times

There is such a group of foreigners, most people in China have never seen them, but once their names appear, almost all people in China will have a title in their minds: "Old friends of the people of China".

These "old friends" include edgar snow, Prince Sihanouk, Kissinger, Needham and Samaranch. ...

"China people often deal with diplomatic relations from feelings and relationships, and are ashamed to talk about interests. Instead, they use the name of friends." Zhang Qingmin, a professor at Peking University Institute of International Relations, told Southern Weekend.

"Old friends" all over the world

60 1 person-This is the total number of international friends called "old friends of China people" by People's Daily in the past 60 years. They come from five continents 123 countries and are old friends all over the world.

The name of an old friend first appeared in 1956, and the winner was the Canadian Humanities Youth Branch. Since 1930, it has been running a school in China and has been supporting the China Revolution.

However, most of the "old friends" of 60 1 got this title after 1977. At 1979, the frequency of this title appeared the first peak. "When diplomatic relations are fully restored, or when foreign relations encounter difficulties, we need the help of old relations and old friends." Zhang Qingmin said.

In terms of nationality, among the old friends of China people, the number of Japanese people is the largest, reaching 1 1 1, which is more than twice that of Americans who rank second. The third to fifth places are Britain, France and Germany.

Interestingly, Southern Weekend reporters also searched the database with "hurting the feelings of China people" as the key word, and found that the number of times of "hurting feelings" ranked, and Japan and the United States also ranked in the top two.

Zhang Qingmin believes that the country with the most old friends is also the most important country in China's diplomacy. Among the big countries, only Russia has few old friends. "This is because we used to be comrades and brothers in the former Soviet Union. This relationship is close, higher than friends. Later, Sino-Soviet relations deteriorated and we didn't talk about friends. "

Of course, some small countries also have important old friends, such as Cambodian Prince Sihanouk and two African "iron friends"-former Tanzanian President Nyerere and former Zambian President kaunda.

The Japanese, who played an important role in the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, occupy a large part of Japan's old friends. They are also called "diggers of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan". In the digger's sequence, Kaheita Okazaki, an entrepreneur, is the most respected. He was mentioned as an old friend for 22 times. The Japanese Prime Minister is likely to become an old friend of the people of China. From 1972 to 1996, * * a total of 14 people have held this position, of which 10 people have been given this name.

In fact, in the list of 60 1 old friends, politicians from all countries are the largest group. In addition to Kissinger, Nixon and other pioneers in the normalization of diplomatic relations, state leaders who have visited China many times are often called old friends by the Chinese side.

But this does not affect the existence of old friends in the economic and cultural fields. China's "ping-pong diplomacy" and "ballet diplomacy", these legendary diplomatic stories, all rely on old friends in the field of literature, art and sports.

From revolutionary comrades-in-arms to business partners

Most of China's first old friends have one thing in common: they have been to Yan 'an. Because of War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the comrades who carried guns together became attached to the "people of China". A group of Soviet volunteer pilots took part in the air battle to defend Wuhan. Later, the captain of this aviation team became an old friend of the people of China.

There are more doctors than soldiers. In addition to the well-known Canadian doctor Bethune, there are doctors from India, Romania, Bulgaria, Argentina, the United States, Britain and other countries who come to China to save lives and forge friendships.

Another group of old friends are foreign journalists who reported the mysterious China to the outside world and made the revolutionary movement led by Mao Zedong known to the world. Si Nuo, Strong and Smedley, the three most famous foreign journalists, are called "3S" together. 1984, China established "China 3S research institute", with Deng as honorary president and former foreign minister Huang Hua as president. Later, this organization was renamed "China International Friends Association".

Like Si Nuo and other journalists, Dutch director Evans is regarded as a good friend who introduced the producer War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression to the world. He came to China on 1938 and filmed the documentary "Forty Million People" about the Anti-Japanese War, which started his 50-year friendship with the people of China. He once sent a hand-held camera to Yan 'an Film Troupe, and now it is hidden in the National Museum.

Others, although they have never been to China during the revolutionary era, have become old friends of the people of China because of their friendship with the leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC). French ecologist René Dumont once met young people from China who used to work and study in Cai Hesen, Deng Xiaoping and other countries. This encounter in a foreign country became the beginning of his friendship with the people of China.

After the end of the revolutionary era, whether we can "respond with one voice and seek common goals" on the international stage has become the criterion for judging whether we are old friends. Anti-imperialism, anti-colonization and anti-aggression are the basis of identity. Most of the old friends of the Eastern European Group and the Third World countries were formed during this period.

However, even people with the nationality of "unfriendly countries" can be regarded as old friends if they can contribute to the construction of new China or publicize the achievements of China's construction in the international community. Adler, an American who published China Economy 65438-0957, is an example.

In the wave of establishing diplomatic relations and resuming diplomatic relations in 1970' s, almost all politicians and non-governmental people who made important contributions to diplomatic normalization were included in the group of old friends. Leaders who firmly support the restoration of China's legitimate seat in the United Nations, such as former Mexican President Echeverilla, are regarded as close friends.

Since 1987, China people's old friends have added a new group-heads of international organizations. Rafael Salas, former director of the United Nations Population Fund, was the first person to make friends with China people. The People's Daily reported that Salas "firmly supported China's population policy before his death ... When a few foreigners viciously attacked China's' forced abortion and forced sterilization' policy, he stepped forward and issued a statement to refute it".

Subsequently, james grant, former executive director of UNICEF, Savignac, former Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization and Gary, former Secretary-General of the United Nations also entered the sequence of old friends.

With the reform and opening up and the beginning of the market economy, old friends in the economic and trade field have also begun to appear, especially those businessmen who have trade relations with China while domestic opposition is still strong.

Friends come and good wine.

It is such a delight to have friends coming so far. For the old friends of the people of China, the China government did not hesitate to give them lofty courtesy.

The meeting and banquet of senior leaders is a common way of entertainment. Even cultural friends like director Evans and British writer Han, who have no administrative level, can chat and have dinner with China leaders as long as they have deep friendship with the people of China.

In fact, for old friends living in China, they have the opportunity to meet with national leaders regularly every year. At the beginning of each year, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries holds a spring reception in the Great Hall of the People and invites friends from China to attend.

For some old friends, birthdays are also a routine way to maintain friendship. If friends live in China, leaders will visit them and hold a banquet in the Great Hall of the People to celebrate. Deng, former chairman of China People's Political Consultative Conference, hosted a family dinner for his old Japanese friend Gong Yixi Onji to celebrate his eightieth birthday.

If friends don't live in China, there will usually be a president of the Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries or a leader at a similar level to celebrate their birthdays overseas. In the name of honorary president of China-Japan Friendship Association, state leader Wang Zhen went to Japan to celebrate the birthday of Japanese friend Kaheita Okazaki, and handed over the word "longevity" presented to him by Deng.

During the party and state leaders' visits, they often arrange to visit old friends. For example, when Hu Yaobang of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee visited New Zealand on 1985, he twice met bertram, an old journalist who had come to Yan 'an to cover the Anti-Japanese War, and invited him back to Yan 'an.

China government's care and help for old friends goes far beyond caring and caring, and even includes inviting friends to Beijing for medical treatment. 1938, an Indian doctor, Basu, came to China with an Indian medical team assisting China and moved to North China to heal the wounded and rescue the dying for nearly five years. Nearly half a century later, the people of China reciprocated in the same way-the Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries invited Ba Lai Su to Beijing for treatment and visit.

Many friends are deeply infected by the friendship of China people. Samaranch once said that he won many awards in his life, but the most important thing is that the people of China regard him as an old friend.

Of course, the China government treats its friends and expects them to be "loyal". "In our opinion, a friend means that you shouldn't do something sorry for yourself. So, what is the behavior of not being friends enough? In the final analysis, the most hurtful thing is what harms China's core interests. " Zhang Qingmin said.

Is an old friend here today?

Some old friends of China, such as Polish journalist Epstein, eventually became their own. 1957 became a citizen of China, 1964 became a member of the standing Committee of the 6th to 10th CPPCC.

More old friends live in their own countries, or even if they live in China, they still retain their original nationalities.

Many old friends have passed away. Starting from 1985, People's Daily has several intensive obituaries of friends. This is also a very high treatment. When some important friends die, national leaders also send messages of condolence. After that, the names of these friends often appear in newspapers on every centenary birthday and other anniversaries. Every time it appears, the name "an old friend of the people of China" will not be missed.

Some old friends with deep feelings left their ashes on the land of China, which is their last wish. For example, part of edgar snow's ashes were buried near the Weiming Lake in Peking University, half of Alley's ashes were integrated into Shandan, Gansu, and the ashes of Canadian friend James gareth endicott were scattered in his second hometown, Leshan, Sichuan.

Since 2003, the frequency of the phrase "an old friend of China people" appearing in People's Daily has dropped sharply, from about 50 times a year to about 20 times.

In Zhang Qingmin's view, the decrease in the use of the word "old friend" reflects the adjustment of diplomatic strategy. "As China's diplomacy continues to move toward pragmatism and internationalization, it is more and more in line with diplomatic laws, and the meaning of the title' old friend' has gradually faded."

20 1 1 This year, "an old friend of the people of China" appeared in People's Daily only twice in the first two months, once by Spanish King Juan Carlos I and once by Kurina Zarnov, chairman of the Asian Winter Games Organizing Committee.