82:DIPLOMATIC HISTORY President Harry S.Truman presides over a meeting of the National Security Coun- cil,January 1951.CREDIT:Harry S.Truman Library Collection. scholars realized.While it is true that problems and disagreements(sometimes even serious ones)existed between the Chinese and Soviet Communists,as well as be- tween Mao Zedong and Stalin (as in any partnership),the new evidence clearly points out that cooperation,or the willingness to cooperate,was the dominant aspect of CCP-Soviet relations in 1949. During China's civil war in 1946-1949,the CCP's relations with Mos- cow were close but not harmonious.21 When it became clear that the Chi- nese Communists were going to win the civil war,both the CCP and the Soviet Union felt the need to further strengthen their relationship.From late 1947,Mao actively prepared to visit the Soviet Union to"discuss impor- tant domestic and international issues"with Stalin.22 The extensive tele- graphic exchanges between Mao and Stalin resulted in two important secret missions in 1949.From 31 January to 7 February,Stalin sent Anastas Mikoyan,a Soviet Politburo member,to visit Xibaipo,CCP headquarters at that time.Mao and other CCP leaders had extensive discussions with him, introducing to him the CCP's strategies and policies.Mao particularly ex- plained to Mikoyan the CCP's foreign policy of"making a fresh start"and "cleaning the house before entertaining guests."23 From late June to mid- August,Liu Shaogi,the CCP's second most important person,visited Mos- cow.During the visit,Stalin apologized for failing to give sufficient assis- tance to the CCP during the civil war and promised that the Soviet Union would give the Chinese Communists political support and substantial assis- tance in military and other fields.Moreover,the Soviets and the Chinese discussed a "division of labor"to promote the world revolution and reached 21.For a discussion see Chen Jian,China's Road to the Korean War:65-69. 22.Andrei Ledovsky."Mikoyan's Secret Mission to China in January and February 1949." Far Eastern Affairs (Moscow),1995.no.2,72-94,esp.75-77;and Shi Zhe,Zai lishijurenshenbian: Shi Zhe huiyilu [Together with historical giants:Shi Zhe's memoirs](Beijing.1991).370-72. 23.See Shi Zhe,"With Mao and Stalin:The Reminiscences of a Chinese Interpreter" (trans.Chen Jian).Chinese Historians5,no.1 (Spring 1992):45-56.For a Russian account of the visit see Ledovsky."Mikoyan's Secret Mission."82 : D I P L O M A T I C H I S T O R Y President Harry S. Truman presides over a meeting of the National Security Coun￾cil, January 1951. CREDIT: Harry S. Truman Library Collection. scholars realized. While it is true that problems and disagreements (sometimes even serious ones) existed between the Chinese and Soviet Communists, as well as be￾tween Mao Zedong and Stalin (as in any partnership), the new evidence clearly points out that cooperation, or the willingness to cooperate, was the dominant aspect of CCP-Soviet relations in 1949. During China’s civil war in 1946–1949, the CCP’s relations with Mos￾cow were close but not harmonious.21 When it became clear that the Chi￾nese Communists were going to win the civil war, both the CCP and the Soviet Union felt the need to further strengthen their relationship. From late 1947, Mao actively prepared to visit the Soviet Union to “discuss impor￾tant domestic and international issues” with Stalin.22 The extensive tele￾graphic exchanges between Mao and Stalin resulted in two important secret missions in 1949. From 31 January to 7 February, Stalin sent Anastas Mikoyan, a Soviet Politburo member, to visit Xibaipo, CCP headquarters at that time. Mao and other CCP leaders had extensive discussions with him, introducing to him the CCP’s strategies and policies. Mao particularly ex￾plained to Mikoyan the CCP’s foreign policy of “making a fresh start” and “cleaning the house before entertaining guests.”23 From late June to mid￾August, Liu Shaoqi, the CCP’s second most important person, visited Mos￾cow. During the visit, Stalin apologized for failing to give sufficient assis￾tance to the CCP during the civil war and promised that the Soviet Union would give the Chinese Communists political support and substantial assis￾tance in military and other fields. Moreover, the Soviets and the Chinese discussed a “division of labor” to promote the world revolution and reached 21. For a discussion see Chen Jian, China’s Road to the Korean War, 65–69. 22. Andrei Ledovsky, “Mikoyan’s Secret Mission to China in January and February 1949,” FarEasternAffairs (Moscow), 1995, no.2, 72–94, esp. 75–77; and Shi Zhe, Zai lishijuren shenbian: Shi Zhe huiyilu [Together with historical giants: Shi Zhe’s memoirs] (Beijing, 1991), 370–72. 23. See Shi Zhe, “With Mao and Stalin: The Reminiscences of a Chinese Interpreter” (trans. Chen Jian), Chinese Historians 5, no.1 (Spring 1992): 45–56. For a Russian account of the visit see Ledovsky, “Mikoyan’s Secret Mission