China and the Bandung Conference

Then Premier Zhou Enlai (C) and Pakistan Prime Minister Mohammed Ali (R) and his wife during the conference. [Photo/Xinhua]

China played an important role in the conference and strengthened its relations with other Asian nations.

The Chinese delegation was led by then Premier Zhou Enlai. On the first day of the Bandung Conference, some delegates attacked communism as "dictatorial" and "neocolonialism" in the presence of the Chinese delegation and suggested China was involved in subversive activities against neighboring countries.

Faced with the danger of the conference being sidetracked, Zhou changed his mind. Instead of delivering a prepared speech he had it distributed as a written statement and made a supplementary speech off the cuff.

Zhou said the Chinese delegation had gone to seek common ground and not to create divergences, and the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-Existence may completely serve as a basis to establish relations of friendship and cooperation and good neighborliness.

Zhou's speech won widespread acclaim among delegates. During the conference, the Chinese delegation advocated the principle of seeking common ground while putting aside differences which not only won the support of an overwhelming number of delegates but also laid the groundwork for the success of the conference.

The Chinese delegation made contact with delegates of many countries, conducted frequent consultations and close cooperation with them and contributed positively to the smooth progress and success of the conference.

The contents of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence were further extended in the Ten Principles of Bandung, adopted at the conference.