The solemn announcement marked the founding of the People's Republic of China, the rise of a new nation in the world.

Soon after the People's Republic of China was founded, it was important for the people's government to make friends with other countries and win international recognition.

On October 3, 1949, just two days after the founding of New China, the Soviet Union became the first country to establish diplomatic relations with it. Soon, other 10 socialist countries followed suit.

Among independent Asian nations, India was the first to set up official ties with China.

Among western countries, some like Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland were on the list.

Others like the UK and the Netherlands recognized the legitimate status of China, a step away from formal diplomatic relations.

New China was making more and more friends, but the path was far from smooth. After years of wars and centuries of imperialist suppression, the country's main diplomatic mission was to safeguard its national security, in other words, to survive.

Chairman Mao Zedong advanced the principle of, "putting the house in order before inviting guests" and "leaning to one side".

In order to establish independent and equal ties with other countries, the government carried out three major policies, "Starting anew", "putting the house in order before inviting guests" and "leaning to one side".

It means the new government was determined to nullify foreign relations set up by the previous Kuomintang government, cleaning up remnants of China's imperialist past, and upholding socialism.

During the Cold War, most countries either chose the capitalist camp led by the United States or the socialist camp led by the Soviet Union.

China chose the latter, as western powers were hostile and carried out containment policies towards the new nation. That meant China could only secure economic and social aid from other socialist countries.

On December 6, 1949, Chairman Mao Zedong paid a state visit to the Soviet Union.

In January 1950, Premier Zhou Enlai also visited, and one month later, signed the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance.

The treaty focused on protecting their national security and military defense.

By the end of 1955, 23 countries established formal diplomatic relations with China, making the first upsurge in international recognition in the country's diplomatic history.

(Video by Han Lin, Meng Tao)