Li Xiannian Quotes

7 Sourced Quotes

We must resolve the unreasonable burden on peasants; we must resolve the fighting for grain rations and waiting for employment of workers and peasants; we must change the crude working style of rural cadres; we must increase the quality of products for supporting agriculture; we must adjust prices of industrial and agricultural products.

Li Xiannian
The strengthening of unity and co-operation with the third world is the basic stand of China's foreign.

Li Xiannian
There are indeed a lot of thorny problems between China and the Soviet Union, but we still hope that the talks will somewhat improve the relations between the two countries. On our part, we have a sincere desire. But that desire is not yet shared by both sides.
Answering a question about the Sino-Soviet talks in Moscow, asked by Seymour Topping, Managing Editor of the New York Times

Li Xiannian
[China and Britain] have common interests and responsibilities in defending world peace and maintaining the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.

Li Xiannian
I have committed many errors, and am not qualified to be a member of the Politburo.
A politburo or political bureau is the executive committee for communist parties.

Li Xiannian
The Taiwan issue is now posing a barrier to the development of China-U.S. relations, but China will never make concessions on the Taiwan question [...] If concessions should be made, the present leadership, including Premier Zhao Ziyang, would have to resign en masse.

Li Xiannian
Western capitalism really does want to see turmoil in China. And not only that; they'd like to see turmoil in the Soviet Union and all the socialist countries of Eastern Europe.

Li Xiannian