Internal Section

January 1

First Five Year Plan (1953-57) development of national economy goes into effect.

January 13-14

Central People's Government Council holds 20th and 21st meetings. A committee is established with Mao Zedong at its head to draft Constitution of People's Republic of China. Resolution on Holding a National People's Congress and Local People's Congresses is adopted.

June 30

At midnight, China's first national census.

The population figure reaches 601,938,035.

November 23

The Government Administration Council issues executive order to implement planned purchase and supply of grain, and introduces an interim method for controlling grain markets. Later, state begins planned purchases of edible oils and oil-bearing crops and planned supply of edible oils for cities as well as industrial and mining areas.

December 16

CPC Central Committee adopts Resolution

on Development of Agricultural Producers' Co- operatives and publishes it on January 8,1954.

Foreign Relations

March 8-17

Moscow. Zhou Enlai, member of Secretariat of CPC Central Committee and premier of the State Council, attends Stalin's funeral at head of Chinese delegation.

March 17-20

Prague. Zhou Enlai, at head of delegation, attends funeral of Klement Gottwald, president of Czechoslovakia.

July 27

Armistice agreement on Korean War is signed by General Nam II, senior delegate of the Korean-Chinese delegation, and Lieutenant General William Harrison, senior delegate of United Nations Command, at Panmunjom, Korea. Agreement is later forwarded for signature to Kim 11 Sung, supreme commander of Korean People's Army, Peng Dehuai, commander of Chinese People's Volunteers, and General Mark Clark, commander-in-chief of United Nations Command.