Special Report: 30th Anniversary of Sino-U.S. Diplomatic Relations    

    by Xinhua writer Wang Jiangang

    NEW YORK, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- On Jan. 28, 1979, Deng Xiaoping, then vice premier of the People's Republic of China, flew across the Pacific Ocean to kick off his 9-day historic visit to the United States.

    A tall, middle-aged Chinese interpreter accompanied Deng all the way through the journey, as recorded in historical photos and videos. He was Ji Chaozhu, who earned fame for interpreting for many Chinese leaders and later became under secretary-general of the United Nations.

    "It was a historic decision for Deng to visit the United States," recalled Ji in an exclusive interview with Xinhua in New York, as both countries are marking the 30th anniversary of the visit.

    "Deng's visit helped the world to have a better and clear understanding of the upbeat, vigorous and peace-loving new China," he said, calling it "one of the greatest achievements" of the visit.

    Many people have witnessed the development of China-U.S. relations, but those who have the chance to witness the process at "zero distance" are one in a million -- and Ji is one of them.

    Born in north China's Shanxi Province in 1929, Ji came with his family to the United States and spent his teenage years here. He also attended Harvard, before making the decision, as did many others of his generation, to return to his motherland and serve New China after its founding in 1949.

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