Corvin LUPU
Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
| Abstract: | In the modern era and in the interwar period, Romania’s relations with China were sporadic and inconsistent. The annexation of Romania into the sphere of influence of the USSR and the takeover of power in China by the Communist Party, in 1949, was followed by an acceleration of political cooperation between Romania and China. Cooperation intensified as both states campaigned for national sovereignty over the USSR, which wanted to exercise coordinating authority over all other states with a socialist state regime. The article presents the most important moments of the bilateral meetings between the party and state leaderships of China and Romania and their cooperation, especially the one related to the long conflicts between China and the USSR. The Romania-China relationship had the depth and continuity specific to some strategic partners, in its acceptance today, the parties granting mutual support and showing solidarity in difficult times. This bi-multilateral relationship, adopted by the state socialist regime in Bucharest, has gone beyond the limits of a political game designed to erode Soviet hegemony by supporting a second pole of power within the world socialist state system. During several generations of leaders, the Romanian side promoted a friendly relationship with China, which was also taken over in the collective mind. |
| Keywords: | Diplomatic relations; China; Romania; Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej; Nicolae Ceaușescu; Mao Zedong; Emil Bodnăraș; the Sino-Soviet conflict |
| Contact details of the authors: | E-mail: corvinlupuro@yahoo.com |
| Institutional affiliation of the authors: | Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu |
| Institutions address: | 550324-Sibiu, CaleaDumbrăvii nr. 34, et. II, cam. 10 Tel: 0040/734306434, Fax: 0040/269/422169 |