3 - Gong Peng's Contribution to the Diplomacy of China-Africa Relations in the Early Period of New China

The Bandung Afro-Asian Conference in 1955 is the starting relations between the New China and Africa, while the Primer Zhou Enlai’s first visit to Africa from December 1963 to February 1964 laid the foundation for China-African friendship. Therefore, the relationship between the New China and Africa cannot be separated from these two landmark historical events　Through these two events, I would like to reveal how the first generation of New China's diplomats, represented by Ms. Gong Peng (1914-70), carried out their diplomatic work brilliantly in the isolation of the new regime, made more friends in Africa, and even in the world. Eventually breaking through the isolation and blockade, they won international recognition for the new China.　Ms. GONG Peng was the first Director (1949-1958; 1959-1970) of the Intelligence Department (now the Department of Information, Communication and Public Diplomacy) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. The Director was responsible for all press coverage though she did not attend the Bandung Conference. In addition, she accompanied Premier Zhou Enlai on his visit to ten African countries. Thereafter, she was appointed Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs (1964-1970), a position she held until her death. As the first foreign ministry spokesperson of new China, she advocated the policy of “accuracy, timeliness and usefulness” to guide the press work, which made a valuable contribution to the early diplomacy of new China.