抗戰(zhàn)以前，國民黨把中共描繪成墮落、愚昧、無知的土匪，實行共產(chǎn)共妻，只知道燒、殺、搶;抗戰(zhàn)后，又四處散播共產(chǎn)黨搞割據(jù)、游而不擊等謠言。然而，中共中央南方局在沖破國民黨的重重阻撓，廣泛開展外事工作過程中，向國際社會展示了一個充滿朝氣的民主大黨形象和中共領導人卓越的外交才能，讓世界重新認識了中國共產(chǎn)黨。

著名愛國華僑領袖陳嘉庚曾比較信任國民黨，而對共產(chǎn)黨有較多思想顧慮，如對中共的民族工商政策、土地政策、民主問題等。在周恩來的努力下，陳嘉庚訪問了延安。通過延安之行，陳嘉庚的思想發(fā)生了不尋常的飛躍，轉(zhuǎn)而同情中共，并義無反顧地把中國的前途和希望寄托在中國共產(chǎn)黨人身上。他回南洋后，不放過一切機會，大加贊揚中共救國救民、廉潔奉公、艱苦奮斗、實事求是、捍衛(wèi)真理的精神，以及中國共產(chǎn)黨人如何上下團結(jié)、官兵平等、軍民一致，中共領袖如何平易近人、和藹可親等。他對兒子陳國慶說：“余此次勞軍，經(jīng)延安所見，深感中國有希望了！”

1944年，中外記者團和美軍觀察組在訪問考察延安后，都大力稱贊延安的政治和共產(chǎn)黨的政策。美國記者愛潑斯坦深有感觸地說：“延安之行可以幫助神圣的反法西斯工作，這個地方很久以來是被封閉著的，這次來到這里把一座關(guān)閉了很久的大門打開了一個縫隙，今后誰若再關(guān)此門，恐怕是不可能的了?！泵儡娪^察組的戴維斯和謝偉思也認為“共產(chǎn)黨的政府和軍隊，是中國近代史中第一次受有積極的廣大人民支持的政府和軍隊，他們得到這種支持，是因為這個政府和軍隊真正是屬于人民的”。

作為中共中央南方局主要領導人，周恩來以“中肯求實、有理有節(jié)、求同存異、不卑不亢、平等待人、禮賢尊士”的外交風范和極具感染力的人格魅力，贏得了外國朋友的尊敬、信賴和友誼。英國駐華大使卡爾稱：“周恩來是重慶最有智慧的人，周恩來和他代表的政黨最終將在中國獲勝?！绷硪晃挥v華大使薛穆也認為周恩來是一個態(tài)度溫和、能干的外交家，具有完美的個人魅力，從私人角度來講，值得與他深入交往。1944年3月，薛穆寫信給英國外交大臣艾登，認為：“在隨著日本的投降而形成的混亂情況下，我個人傾向于支持共產(chǎn)黨?！?944年末，薛穆在致艾登的電報中又說：“共產(chǎn)黨采取的政治變革的范圍和意義非常顯著，我的觀點傾向于：他們成功的原因只是在于經(jīng)濟問題已經(jīng)消失，并把這看成是中國的一個巨大成就;邊區(qū)的領導人是引人注目和強有力的人物?！?/p>

時任美國重慶戰(zhàn)時新聞處處長費正清后來回憶說：“周恩來的外交魅力在初次見面時就打動了我。在我面前是一位濃眉、英俊的貴胄，卻為民眾獻身;作為個人，他的智慧和敏銳的感覺是罕見的，然而他卻致力于集體主義事業(yè)。”“居住在周公館里的共產(chǎn)黨人做著一件與美國交往的出色工作，他們以批評的眼光，現(xiàn)實主義的觀點同美國人討論各種問題。雖然他們現(xiàn)在隨時有被捕并被投入集中營的危險，但他們?nèi)匀槐局@人的團體精神和堅定信仰照舊開展革命工作……在周恩來所住的閣樓里，臭蟲也許會從頂棚上掉下來，雨水也許會漏到床上，但他們的宗教熱忱和思想信念照舊如火如荼、絕不動搖，仿佛他們自信能夠喚醒這個國家?！?/p>

不難看出，國際社會各界人士對中國共產(chǎn)黨的廣泛贊譽，充分展示了以毛澤東、周恩來為代表的中共領導人的獨特魅力，他們身上體現(xiàn)了中國共產(chǎn)黨的生命力和感召力，同時樹立起中共在國際社會良好的政治形象。

1945年10月，毛澤東參加完重慶談判回到延安后，感慨地說：“我這次在重慶，就深深感到廣大人民熱烈地支持我們，他們不滿意國民黨政府，把希望寄托在我們方面。我又看到許多外國人，其中也有美國人，對我們很同情。廣大的外國人民不滿意中國的反動勢力，同情中國人民的力量。他們不贊成蔣介石的政策。我們在全國、全世界有很多朋友，我們不是孤立的。”

毛澤東的這段話，是對周恩來在8年抗戰(zhàn)中帶領中共中央南方局，在開展黨的外交工作中歷盡艱險、卓著勛勞的一個最好的總結(jié)。（文字資料由中共重慶市委黨史研究室提供）

編輯/楊艷

Before the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression， the Kuomintang （KMT） portrayed the Communist Party of China （CPC） as a corrupt， fatuous and ignorant bandit， who communized property and women and knew nothing but pillaging and plundering; it also spread rumors everywhere about the CPC's separatist regime and its guerilla warfare without regular military combat. After breaking through the numerous obstacles of the KMT and extensively carrying out foreign affairs work， the CPC Southern Bureau， however， showed the international community the image of a vibrant democratic major party and the outstanding diplomatic prowess of the CPC leaders， refreshing the world's understanding of Communist Party of China.

Tan Kah Kee， a famous patriotic overseas Chinese leader， once trusted the KMT and had ideological concerns about the Communist Party， such as its ethnic industrial and commercial policy， land policy， democracy issues and so on. With Zhou Enlai's endeavor， Mr. Tan visited Yan'an. Through his trip to Yan'an， Tan Kah Kee experienced an exceptional ideological leap and identified himself with the CPC and placed China's future and hope on the Chinese communists. After returning to Nanyang， he took every opportunity to praise the spirit of the CPC in saving the country and the people， performing official duties honestly， working hard， seeking truth from facts and defending the truth， as well as how the CPC members unify officers and soldiers， military and civilians， and how approachable and amiable are the CPC leaders. He told his son Tan Kok Kheng， "from what I see in Yan'an， I deeply feel that there's hope for China！"

In 1944， after a visit in Yan'an， Chinese and foreign press corps and the United States Army Observer Group strongly praised the politics and the Communist Party's policies in Yan'an. Israel Epstein， the American journalist said with deep feeling， "the trip to Yan'an helps the sacred anti-fascist work. As this place has been closed for a long time， this trip here has opened a crevice in the long-time closed door. I'm afraid it won't be closed again by anyone in the future." John Paton Davies and John S. Service of the United States Army Observation Group also believe that "the Communist Party's government and army are the first government and army actively supported by the masses in China's modern history， for they really belong to the people".

As the main leader of the CPC Southern Bureau， Zhou Enlai won the respect， trust， and friendship of foreign friends with his diplomatic demeanor and influential charisma of "pertinent and practical-minded， reasonable and disciplined， seeking common ground while reserving differences， being not humble or arrogant， treating people equally and respecting talents and scholars". Sir Archibald Clark-Kerr， the British Ambassador to China， said， "Zhou Enlai is the wisest person in Chongqing. Zhou and the Party he represents will eventually triumph in China." Horace Seymour， another British Ambassador to China， also deemed that Zhou Enlai as a amicable and competent diplomat with perfect charisma. Personally， he is worthy of deep friendship. In March 1944， Horace Seymour wrote to Robert Anthony Eden， the British Foreign Secretary， "in the chaos caused by Japan's surrender， I personally tend to support the Communist Party." In his telegram to Eden at the end of 1944， Horace Seymour also added， "the scope and significance of the political reforms adopted by the Communist Party are very significant. In my opinion， the reason for their success lies in that the economic problems have disappeared， and it is regarded as a huge achievement of China; moreover， the leaders of the border areas are prominent and powerful figures. "

John King Fairbank， then director of the US wartime information office in Chongqing， later recalled， "Zhou Enlai's diplomatic charisma moves me when we first meet. In front of me is a handsome nobleman with thick eyebrows， but dedicates himself to serve the people; as an individual， he oozes one-of-a-kind wisdom and acuity， yet he is committed to the cause of collectivism." "The Communists dwelling in Zhou's Residence has done an excellent job in interacting with the United States. They discuss various issues with the Americans from a critical yet realistic point of view. Despite perils of being arrested and thrown into the concentration camp at any time， they keep doing revolutionary work with incredible team spirit and firm conviction... In the attic where Zhou Enlai used to live， bedbugs might fall from the ceiling and rain may permeate to the bed， but their zeal and belief are still in full swing and would never waver， seeming that they are confident enough to awaken the country. "

It was not hard to tell that the extensive recognition of people from all walks of life in the international community for the Communist Party of China fully manifests the unique charisma of the CPC leaders represented by Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai， reflecting the vitality and inspiration of the Communist Party of China， and establishing a positive political image of the CPC in the international community.

In October 1945， Mao Zedong returned to Yan'an after the Chongqing Negotiations and said with emotion， "when I was in Chongqing this time， I deeply felt that the masses warmly supported us. They bore a grudge with the KMT government and placed their hopes on us. I also saw many foreigners， including Americans， that empathize with us. The foreign masses loathed China's reactionary forces and empathized with the strength of the Chinese people. They begged to differ from Chiang Kai-shek's policies. We have many friends all over the country and the world. We are not alone."

Mao Zedong's remark serves an optimal summary of Zhou Enlai's arduous yet meritorious journey in carrying out the Party's diplomatic work by leading the CPC Southern Bureau during the eight-year War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.? （Texts/Provided by Party History Research Center of the CPC Chongqing Committee）

Editor/ Yang Yan