991 was an extremely sad year for Gorbachev . When Yeltsin won the power struggle, everything Gorbachev did afterwards became an unchangeable fate.
Gorbachev sat in the Kremlin with a sad face, looking at the country called "Soviet Union" in front of him for the last time. He understood that starting tomorrow, this great country, the forerunner of socialism, would cease to exist.
Many years later, Gorbachev was still sentimental when he reflected on it. When he saw China, a powerful socialist country today, he gave two pieces of advice.
Speaking of Gorbachev’s relationship with China, we have to start from 1989.
Gorbachev
On May 15, 1989, Gorbachev began a four-day official visit to China. After thirty years, the top leader of the Soviet Union finally set foot on Chinese soil again.
Gorbachev's visit to China naturally has its own purpose. At that time, the Soviet Union was experiencing economic difficulties and the country was experiencing numerous problems, while China was taking off economically due to the implementation of reform and opening up.
As the leader of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev naturally wanted to learn some experience from his former "little brother" to see if he could help the Soviet Union overcome the current difficulties.
Gorbachev's visit to China
It is worth mentioning that Gorbachev is one of the few Soviet leaders who can make objective judgments on the development of Sino-Soviet relations. He admitted the Soviet Union's past mistakes, and the last person willing to face the facts was the long-dead Stalin.
This is enough to prove Gorbachev's moderate but not aggressive attitude towards China.
On May 16, 1989, the leaders of China and the Soviet Union finally shook hands of friendship in the East Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
After cordial exchanges, the two leaders discussed the evolution of Sino-Russian and Sino-Soviet relations over the past one or two hundred years. Deng Xiaoping also put forward several views on the development and understanding of Marxism and socialism.
Gorbachev's visit to China
Gorbachev sat on the other side, like an obedient student who listened carefully, listening attentively, taking notes, nodding, and making sounds of approval.
For Gorbachev, the Chinese leaders in front of him are not only pioneers on the road of socialism, but also his "elders". And his attitude fully demonstrated his respect and love for this elder.
Gorbachev's visit to China
Sino-Soviet relations began to recover thanks to Gorbachev's efforts. The goodwill unleashed by Gorbachev was also recognized by the Chinese people.
However, the easing of relations with China cannot solve the Soviet Union's internal problems. This behemoth, which has long been covered with scars, will eventually collapse one day.
December 26, 1991, is an extremely important festival in the West, the first day after Christmas. Gorbachev officially declared that the Soviet Union ceased to exist. This behemoth split into fifteen countries, and Russia became the sole successor to the Soviet Union.
Gorbachev announced the disintegration of the Soviet Union
And Gorbachev also officially began his retirement career.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian economy fell into the most difficult period in history, which undoubtedly caused Gorbachev a big problem. His pension has depreciated significantly and he is facing certain problems in his life.
After retirement, Gorbachev spent a peaceful time with his family. He locked himself in the villa left to him in Russia and enjoyed his retirement life.
Until Grigoriev, the famous Russian documentary director, broke into his life.
He wanted to make a different documentary about the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Gorbachev was an indispensable and necessary figure in the film.
Gorbachev in the movie
Gorbachev hesitated for a long time - perhaps it was his inner unwillingness that prompted him to speak out what was in his heart. After struggling for a period of time, he finally agreed to the request for filming.
But he still looked gloomy. Before filming, he tried hard to adjust his mood so that he no longer looked weak. However, when the finished film was released, "Power" magazine mocked: "He in the film , the impression given is precisely that of weakness. "
But weakness is not what Gorbachev expected. After overcoming the complicated emotions in his heart, he stood up again and wanted to return to politics and make some achievements. .
In 1996, Gorbachev ran for the Russian presidency. Unfortunately, the leader of the old country was poured cold water on him as soon as he came forward.
Yeltsin gave him a lot of restrictions. When communicating with voters, Gorbachev always encountered the lack of cooperation from the local government. Even applying for an event location would face a lot of resistance. Even if the application was approved, it would be the most remote in the city. place.
Of course, the problem does not only come from the government. Most people also have a bad impression of this "last monarch". Supporters of the Russian Communist Party denounced him as a traitor and chanted slogans against him.
But are they not just supporters of of the Russian Communist Party? This is how most people view Gorbachev, but they keep the truth to themselves.
In the subsequent elections between Gorbachev and Yeltsin
, Gorbachev received only a few hundred thousand votes.
If he is a fledgling campaigner, this data is already very satisfactory.
But as the supreme leader of the former Soviet Union, this number is undoubtedly full of irony. This means that in this vast land, there are only a few hundred thousand people who support the former leader.
Gorbachev, as a political figure, has no room for activity in Russia.
However, Gorbachev, who was frustrated in politics, has developed very well in other fields. He has published a book and filmed commercials for Apple and Pizza Hut . On TV, we can occasionally see this old man whose body is covered with traces of history.
Gorbachev shot a Pizza Hut commercial
He is like a living fossil of history, and every time he appears, people exclaim.
He has even participated in film and television production - although he may be the actor with the narrowest acting career. No matter which movie or TV series he is in, he can only play one role, and that is himself. Gorbachev, as Gorbachev.
Of course, what people are most concerned about are political matters. Gorbachev sensed business opportunities and published many memoirs, each of which brought him huge profits.
It is not only curious for ordinary people, but also for scholars who want to study and explore that not-so-distant history. Generally speaking, Gorbachev's memoirs are also precious information.
He represents a leader who narrates the collapse of a powerful country from a first-person perspective.
After retirement, Gorbachev would often reflect on why the country collapsed in his own hands. Why did the great Soviet Union only have the option of disintegration?
Although the actual reason was that the Soviet Union was hard to recover from, Gorbachev still placed the main responsibility for its disintegration on his own head.
After retirement, Gorbachev, who had plenty of time, spent a long time thinking about this issue. After getting the answer to the question, he chose to leave this advice to his "old neighbor" China.
After all, China is the only major socialist country left in the world.
The first lesson is not to engage in democratization or let the situation become chaotic. The second lesson is that strengthening the party's leadership over the country and the reform process is the top priority on all issues.
Gorbachev solemnly reminded: If the party loses its leadership over society and reform, there will be chaos. And chaos represents danger.
The reality is just as Gorbachev said.Under unprepared reforms, cruel international competition, and the suddenly opened Soviet market, a very small number of people became rich overnight and became the lucky ones.
But more people have been impacted by the international market and have gone bankrupt.
As the last leader of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev’s warning was undoubtedly very valuable.
After all, he left two "precious" legacies for Russia. Uncontrolled inflation , and millions of poor people living on the streets.
This is the painful lesson he learned.
Gorbachev did not live a happy life in the second half of his life. He often struggled with the pain of the disintegration of the Soviet Union. One of the driving forces of life that allowed Gorbachev to persevere in this worldly sea of suffering was his beloved wife, Raisa.
Gorbachev and his wife Raisa
In their marriage, Gorbachev and Raisa shared everything in their lives, including his politics. Gorbachev even publicly stated: "What I love most is Raisa, and politics comes second."
In 1999, Raisa was diagnosed with leukemia. After more than two months of constant companionship, Lai Shah finally left this world.
After the death of his wife, pain and sadness filled Gorbachev's heart, followed by endless loneliness and loneliness.
He began to try to do more interesting things and write more books to divert his attention.
He has published more than ten biographies, including "The Unfortunate Reformer" which reflects on the disintegration of the Soviet Union, and "The Life of Gorbachev" which recalls his early life. Of course, the most popular one is written for Raisa "Lonely Together".
Gorbachev in the hospital
But he is a lonely old man after all . On March 2, 2021, Gorbachev celebrated his 90th birthday. He still loved his dark suit, but his body became more bloated and clumsy due to the disease.
He lives in an isolation hospital and complains that his daughter and granddaughter don't visit him often.
After his wife left, Gorbachev thought he had adapted to loneliness. But reality told him that he was still the lonely, lonely old man.
On August 31, 2022, Gorbachev passed away at the age of 91. This marks the end of an era, and it also means that a lonely retired old man can finally put down all his burdens and take a long sleep.
