Internal Section

February 27

Mao Zedong delivers speech On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People at enlarged Supreme State Conference.

April 27

Party Central Committee issues directive on launching rectification campaign in whole Party against bureaucratism, sectarianism and subjectivism in order to meet needs of socialist transformation and construction.

May 8-June 3

United Front Work Department of Party Central Committee calls 14 meetings of leaders of democratic parties and famous non-party personages to hear their opinions on Party's work. In same period, CPC and government organizations hold series of similar forums with cultural, educational, scientific and technological circles across whole country.

June 8

Party Central Committee issues directive to Muster Our Forces to Repulse Rightists' Wild Attacks. On same day, People's Daily publishes articles against rightists. Large-scale anti-rightist struggle soon spreads throughout country. It is later unduly expanded, and great number of intellectuals, patriotic personages and Party functionaries are mistakenly labeled as rightists, with disastrous consequences.

September 20-October 9

Third Plenary Session of Eighth Party Congress enlarged is convened in Beijing. In his speech, Mao Zedong still maintains that principal contradictions in China are between proletariat and bourgeoisie and between socialist road and capitalist road.

October 15

In Wuhan, first bridge across Changjiang River, started in September 1955, more than 1,670 meters long, opens to traffic.

End of 1957

First Five-Year Plan for Development of National Economy is over fulfilled. Compared with 1952, total industrial output value in 1957 rises by 129 percent; total agricultural output value, by 25 percent; national income, by 53 percent, and the average per-capita consumption level of China's urban and rural citizens, by 23 percent.

¡¡ Foreign Relations

February 7

Diplomatic relations established with Sri Lanka (Ceylon ),

March 27

China and Czechoslovakia sign Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation.

November 2-20

Chairman Mao Zedong leads delegation of Chinese Communist Party on official visit to Soviet Union to attend celebrations of 40th anniversary of October Revolution, Congress of Communist Parties and Workers' Parties of Socialist Countries held in Moscow on November 14-16 and Congress of 64 Communist Parties and Workers' Parties held there on November 16-19.