Internal Section

March 17-20

CPC Central Committee convenes working conference to discuss opening of Fourth National Peoples Congress and amendments to Constitution. Most attendants consent to Mao Zedong's suggestion to abolish position of chairman of People's Republic of China.

April 11

Lin Biao continues to press for establishing post of PRC chairman, under pretence of favoring Mao Zedong for it. Following day, Mao Zedong states, ???I could not do this again, this suggestion is not proper.

April 24

China successfully launches its first earth satellite.

June 27

CPC Central Committee issues circular: instructing institutions of higher learning to enroll students and resume classes stating that examination system is to be abolished and students will be enrolled from among workers, peasants and soldiers who may qualify upon recommendation by masses, approval by leaders and re-examination by schools, and stipulating that task of worker-peasant-soldier students is to study in, administer and reform universities.

July 1

Chengdu-Kunming Railway, 1,085 kilometers long, opens to traffic.

August 23-September 6

Mount Lushan, Jiangxi Province, Second Plenary Session of Ninth CPC Central Committee: Lin Biao, Chen Boda and others systematically distribute material about extraordinary genius. Chen Boda hastily distributes bulletin praising Lin Biao, calling for creation of PRC chairman position, endorsing Lin Biao for the post. On August 31, Mao Zedong writes My Opinion, severely criticizing Chen Boda and foiling Lin Biao counter-revolutionary clique's scheme to usurp leadership.

December 22-last ten days of January, 1971

On Mao Zedong's proposal, Zhou Enlai presides over North China Conference: Chen Boda's counterrevolutionary crimes committed in North China Area are exposed and criticized.

December 25

On Zhou Enlai's proposal, approved by Chairman Mao Zedong, Construction of Gezhouba project, first large dam across Changjiang (Yangtze) River, is given go-ahead.

Foreign Relations

March 19

Beijing. Prince Norodom Sihanouk, head of state of Cambodia, and his wife arrive from Moscow. Visit comes at invitation of Chinese government after he is informed in Moscow that there has been a coup in his home country.

April 5-7

Premier Zhou visits Korea.

October 13

Diplomatic relations established with Canada.

October 15

Diplomatic relations established with Equatorial Guinea.

November 6

Diplomatic relations established with ltaly.

November 24

Diplomatic relations established with Ethiopia.

December 15

Diplomatic relations established with Chile.

December 18

Mao Zedong meets American friend Edgar Snow. Mao makes it clear during talks that US President Richard Nixon is welcome to visit China.