386 THE END OF THE COLD WAR
than they could give; and he saw no point in forcing the pace of restor-
ing links between the Soviet and Chinese communist parties.^44
This was hardly the reception that Gorbachëv had anticipated, and
he hoped to get down to a more constructive discussion with Li
Peng.^45 Disappointment awaited him. Showing no interest in an
expansion of trade, Li focused entirely on the matters of concern to
the Chinese leadership. He denied that capitalism had taken out a
‘patent’ on human rights. He mentioned that China was experiencing
difficulty with America about Taiwan and Tibet, but was delighted that
Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had offered to end India’s support
for the Dalai Lama. He talked about the damage that the Japanese had
wreaked in China in the Second World War, adding that he recognized
the pragmatic need to collaborate with Japan as a powerful industrial
country.^46 Gorbachëv commented that the USSR’s shortage of capital
investment was one of its basic problems. This failed to divert Li, who
insisted that China and the Soviet Union should give priority to an
agreed demarcation of the Sino-Soviet frontier. Gorbachëv at last lost
patience, complaining that the Chinese were ignoring his proposals
for cooperation in energy, transport and metallurgy. He badly wanted
some signs of progress before departing from China. He told Li that
Moscow would dearly like to achieve the demilitarization of the
frontier zone between the two countries.^47
Gorbachëv and his travelling party behaved with the propriety
demanded by his hosts. This did not stop students in Beijing from
massing on the streets and chanting his name. Slogans were unfurled
asking for political reforms. The Gorbachëv effect was evident even
though the man himself stayed away from the crowds. Shevardnadze
had to conquer an impulse to go and talk to the students on Tianan-
men Square.^48
The one opportunity for Gorbachëv to make a stirring speech
came at the Great Hall of the People on 17 May. While acknowledging
the historical problems that had divided the USSR and the People’s
Republic of China, he contended that it was in the interests of both
countries to resolve them. He highlighted that his agreement with the
Americans entailed the destruction of 436 medium- and short-range
missiles from the Soviet eastern territories. He suggested that the
USSR’s railway network could become a new Silk Road for the Chinese
to export their goods to Europe. When explaining his own ideas for
economic reform, he stressed the need for workers to have an influ-
ence over the process. He also emphasized his commitment to political