Summary of Zhou Enlai's Talk with Ion Gheorghe Maurer, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Romania, in Beijing

At 4:30 p.m. [on October 5, 1966], [Zhou Enlai] held talks with Maurer, Chairman of the Romanian Council of Ministers, in Building 18 of the Diaoyutai Hotel. Maurer introduced the situation of talks with Vietnam. Premier Zhou Enlai answered questions raised by Maurer in detail. [Zhou's comments] can be summarized into four points. First, on the issue of Vietnam, the Chinese and Soviet positions are absolutely opposite and united action is out of the question. Second, in time negotiations will be inevitably held on the Vietnam question, but the key issues are on what conditions and at what time should negotiations be conducted, and who decides the terms and timing of negotiations. The decision on negotiations lies in the DRV. Third, for those people who were asked by the Soviet Union and the United States to go to the DRV to exert pressure, we have allowed them to pass through China so long as the DRV has extended them invitations. But there is one exception: if U Thant wants to go to the DRV, we will think about whether to let him pass through China. Four, as to the passage of aid-Vietnam materials through China, we will act according to agreements. On this issue there is no possibility of united action.