On February 21, 1972, President Nixon went to China to mend relations during the Cold War. He met with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai. They decided to increase cultural contacts between their nations. Nixon also proposed a permanent U.S. trade operation in China, and created the Open Door Policy, which guaranteed that all nations can have equal trading privileges with China. This policy prevented the division and control of China by different countries such as France, United Kingdom, Russia and Germany.