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April

30

1984

April 30, 1984



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Diary Entry - 04/30/1984

Monday, April 30, 1984

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To the Great Hall for signing of a Nuclear power agreement & other protocols agreed on in our talks. A Champagne toast & the official farewell by Chmn. Zhao & Pres. Li. Then to A.F.1 & on to Shanghai. We landed at Honggiao Airport at 12:30. A Big receiving line headed by Mayor Wang. Nancy & I separated. They had a schedule for her and I went to the Shanghai-Foxboro co. It’s a high tech. industry & another example of the modernization taking place in China—a partnership between Foxboro of Mass. & China. After a tour of the plant & some ceremonies we went on to the Jing Jiang guest house. At 2:35: I left for Fudan U. I was met by a tiny Chinese woman who is Pres. of the U. but who is also a grad. of Smith & M.I.T. First we had a tea with Faculty members—half of whom had gone to school in America & most of whom spoke English. Then over to a classroom where I did Q&A with students—all of whom spoke English. I wish I could have stayed with them longer. Their questions were very much about America & American students. Then to the Auditorium for an address carried live on Shanghai T.V. The audience was a mix of Faculty & students. Most understood Eng. & for those who didn’t they had a script of my speech in Chinese. I was well received & frankly it was a darn good speech—the students ate it up. Then Pres. Xie presented me with a set of books of ancient Chinese maps by one of the Prof ’s. That evening the Mayor hosted a dinner in the Shanghai Exhibition Hall. It was an enjoyable evening & the best Chinese food of the trip—for an American that is. There was entertainment that was enjoyable & the evening ended. After breakfast met with the consulate staff then went to the Rainbow bridge Commune. The Deputy Commune leader briefed us on the commune—now called a township. Then we toured the township stopping at a child care center where 4 & 5 year olds entertained us with dance & song. They are the cutest children and so full of joy. Then we visited a private home—a young couple, their little boy & the father & mother of the husband. He (the husband) had built the house himself. He told us how much income they had & how long it took him to save for the house etc. We went out in a field & met some women working there. Under modernization they get to keep & sell in the open mkt. everything they can produce over & above the govt’s. Quota. That ended our visit to China. We boarded A.F.1 & headed out over the Pacific toward Fairbanks Alaska. We departed at 10:35 A.M. flew for about 81⁄2 hours, crossing the dateline again and landed in Fairbanks at 3:20 A.M. Alaska time. Believe me that can confuse you. We drove to a new home belonging to Sen. & Mrs. Murkowski who haven’t lived in it yet and went to bed until about 11 A.M. but it was still May 1 & still Tuesday. We had juice & coffee and headed for the U. of Alaska for a welcoming ceremony—about 3000 people. The Sen. introduced me & I made a short speech. Some children presented us with gifts—native handcraft. Then to the William Wood Student Center for lunch & more remarks. Back to the Murkowski home at 2:30 P.M. & into Pyjamas. We saw the midnight sun—it was still up at 11 P.M. We finally got to sleep but it was strange getting away from China time.