....President Richard Nixon made his historic first visit to China. It was the first time any United States president visited the nation, and was the first major step taken towards normalizing relations with the communist nation. In the past, China supported North Korea during the Korean War when the US pushed past the 38th parallel, and sent advisors to help fighters in North Vietnam. In 1949, cold warrior Nixon openly criticized President Truman for having “lost China” to the communists. Tensions between China and the Soviet Union, however, made apparent an opportunity for Henry Kissinger and President Nixon to maneuver between them and gain favorability with the People’s Republic of China. After 25 years of diplomatic silence between the two nations, Chairman Mao’s first words to Nixon were "I believe our old friend Chiang Kai-shek would not approve of this." Following a week of talks between the heads of state, Nixon announced from Shanghai that, "This was the week that changed the world, as what we have said in that Communique is not nearly as important as what we will do in the years ahead to build a bridge across 16,000 miles and 22 years of hostilities which have divided us in the past. And what we have said today is that we shall build that bridge."
Memorandum of Conversation between top U.S. and Chinese officials
Conversations from Nixon's trip to China
Sources: Nixon Bridge (Image) / Nixon Eating with Mao (Image) / Memorandum of Conversation / Conversations