On this day 50 years ago, on December 2, 1975 (October 30, 1975 lunar calendar), Chairperson Mao Zedong met with US President Ford. Chairperson Mao met with visiting US President Ford On the afternoon of December 2, 1975, Chairperson Mao Zedong met with visiting US President Gerald Ford and his wife Betty Ford, as well as other personnel accompanying President Ford on his visit. President Ford was accompanied by Susan Ford, daughter of President Ford; Dr. Henry Kissinger, Secretary of State; George W. Bush, Director of the United States Liaison Office to China; Brent Scowcroft, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs; Joseph Jack Sisko, Deputy Secretary of State; Philip Habib, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs; Winston Lord, Director of Policy and Planning, Department of State; and Richard Solomon, Senior Staff Member of the National Security Council. Chairman Mao shook hands with all the American guests and had a serious and meaningful conversation with President Ford on a wide range of issues in a friendly atmosphere. President Ford left Washington, D.C., on the morning of November 29, and traveled to our country via Alaska and Japan. In remarks before his departure, President Ford said: "I will travel to the People's Republic of China to strengthen our new relationship with that great country." He said, "The new relationship of mutual respect between the United States and China that we are developing will contribute to stability and international security in Asia. We will maintain our own views as always. However, we will seek to promote mutual understanding in accordance with the American tradition." Ford and his party arrived in Beijing on December 1. They went to the airport to meet Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping and Li Xiannian, who were commissioned by Premier Zhou Enlai. That night, Premier Zhou Enlai entrusted Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping to host a banquet and welcomed Ford and his party. On December 5, Ford and his party left Beijing.