In 1972 President Richard M. Nixon was the first president to visit the People's Republic of China. This visit ended twenty-five years of hostilities between the two countries.
Ironically, Nixon had been put on the Republican ticket as Vice-President with Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 for his strong anti-communist position. But, he later became interested in expanding cultural contacts and opening trade between the two nations. And so, he met with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai after having sent Secretary of State Henry Kissinger several times to Beijing, China, on clandestine diplomatic missions. There Mr. Kissinger met with Premier Zhou, until it was arranged that the President would make a visit himself.
This historic opening of relations and trade took place during "the week that changed the world," as Nixon called it. After this visit and the opening of diplomatic relations and trade, China became somewhat aligned with the United States against the Soviet Union. This gain in leverage over the U.S.S.R. was given as one of the main objectives of opening relations with China.
There were three purposes for Nixon's trip to China: To bring about a peaceful settlement on Taiwan, to effect a peaceful settlement of the War in Vietnam, and to deter the influence of Communism after the Sino-Soviet split. At any rate, there can be no question that President Richard Nixon's visit opened trade relations with China.
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