China: The dream of man?

After twenty years without direct communication between the United States and China, the presidential plane, the spirit the 76, carried the United States President and his party to a personal meeting with the Chinese Premier Chou En-lai. The date was February 21, 1972, and he place was peking. A full week of meeting, banquets and sightseeing followed. On the eve of their departure from China, the Americans issued a 1500-word communique. Among other things, it said, "The two sides agreed that it is desirable to broaden understanding between the two peoples. To this end, they discussed specific areas in such subjects as science, technology, culture, sports, and journalism, in which people-to-people contacts and exchanges would be mutually beneficial."