Chinese Dignitaries Visit Nixon’s Grave

A group of Chinese dignitaries visited the grave of former President Richard Nixon on Tuesday to commemorate the third anniversary of his death.

The former vice minister of foreign affairs, Qi Huaiyuan, laid a wreath of white and red roses, lilies, tulips and freesia on Nixon’s resting place in the gardens of the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace.

Huaiyuan, now president of the Chinese People’s Assn. for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said the group wanted to pay its respects to Nixon this year, because it also commemorates the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Shanghai Communique.

Signed in 1972 by Nixon and then-Chinese Premier Zhou En-lai, the communique represented the first direct communication between the two countries in the decades that passed since China’s revolution.

“We think Richard Nixon is one of the most outstanding visionary statesmen in contemporary history,” Huaiyuan said through an interpreter. “The Chinese people will forever remember Richard Nixon for his outstanding contributions to Sino-American relations.”

Traveling with Huaiyuan were two other representatives from the Chinese association, Li Xiaolin and Zhang Heqiang, and a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zhang Kunsheng.

Since 1972, the group has entertained more than 30,000 Americans visiting China, including music and cultural groups, as well as prominent politicians and business owners.

Their purpose, according to Xiaolin, is to promote good relations between China and other countries by teaching visitors about Chinese history and culture.

“People learn that in spite of our very different social and cultural backgrounds, we can find something in common,” she said.

The group is particularly interested in educating young people about foreign relations. To that end, the group will host a meeting in Shanghai this summer between 100 American students and 100 Chinese students to learn about the history of Sino-American relations in the last 25 years.

“We want our young people to understand the importance of the Shanghai Communique,” Xiaolin said.