Zhou Enlai

(1898–1976)

   One of the major Chinese communist leaders in the 20th century and the first premier of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Born in the Jiangsu province Zhou studied at Nankai University and in Japan (1917–19) and France (1920–24). In Europe he helped organize branches of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and when he returned to China in 1924 he played a significant part in the first United Front. In 1927 he was elected to the CCP Central Committee and Politburo, and he was one of the leaders of the Long March in 1934–35. He was a key representative of the CCP in negotiations with the Kuomintang mediated by the United States, and after the communists came to power in 1949 he was appointed premier and foreign minister. As foreign minister (until 1958) he helped to improve China’s standing and its foreign relations with a number of countries. He attended the 1954 Geneva Conference on Indochina and the 1955 Asian–African Conference in Indonesia, and he negotiated the five principles of peaceful coexistence with the Indian leader Jawaharlal Nehru that formed the basis of China’s foreign policy up until 1958. He was also involved in the policy of dialogue with the United States and Japan in the early 1970s that saw the signing of the1972 Shanghai Communiqué with President Richard Nixon. As premier he generally had a moderating, stabilizing influence, for example endeavoring to limit the disruption of the Cultural Revolution. After the death of Lin Biao in 1971, Zhou was number two in the Chinese leadership hierarchy after Mao. Zhou died in office in 1976.