Ivan Arkhipov’s visit to China in 1984 (a study of Chinese press materials)

The article examines the key events and outcomes of the December 1984 visit to China by a Soviet delegation led by Ivan Arkhipov, the First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR. The significance of this study lies in the limited knowledge and coverage of various aspects of the visit, particularly from the perspective of the Chinese side. A novel aspect of this article is its extensive use of materials from the Chinese press as a primary source. The aim of this research is to identify and present the key features and implications of Arkhipov’s visit within the context of developing bilateral relations, using insights drawn from Chinese media coverage. Additionally, the study analyzes shifts in the rhetoric of Chinese media regarding the USSR. The findings indicate that the visit was one of the pivotal moments in the normalization of Soviet-Chinese relations. Beyond the formal outcomes, which included the signing of agreements on trade, economic, scientific, and technical cooperation, Arkhipov’s visit significantly influenced the development of long-term interstate cooperation across various levels.