Page:Kissinger's Trip (4) - November 25-29, 1974(Gerald Ford Library)(1553937).pdf/28

  November 29, 1974

No. 514

Mr. Vice Premier, Mr. Foreign Minister, Friends:

On behalf of all my colleagues, on behalf of my wife and my children, I would like to thank our Chinese hosts for the very warm and very friendly reception we have had here.

The Foreign Minister and I reached a very important agreement today, which is that we would keep our toasts short, to spare the mental agility of the press which is here.

I do want to say that this visit, my seventh to the People's Republic, continues the progress that has been made on each previous occasion. We reviewed international problems and deepened our common understanding. We committed ourselves to continuing the process of normalization along the lines of the Shanghai Communique. Beyond the formal exchanges, we gained a better understanding of the Chinese point of view, which we will take seriously into account in conducting our foreign policy.

I said when I arrived here that the process of improving relations between the People's Republic and the United States is a fixed principle of American foreign policy. This principle was reaffirmed and strengthened during our conversations.

So, my colleagues and I and my family leave with very warm feelings and a feeling of substantive satisfaction.

In this spirit, I would like to propose a toast to the friendship of the Chinese and American peoples, to the good health and long life of Chairman Mao, to the good health and long life of Premier Chou En-Lai, to the good health and long life of the Vice Premier and the Foreign Minister. Gam bei.

Mr. Secretary of State and Mrs. Kissinger, all the other American guests, comarades [sic] and friends:

First of all, on behalf of all my Chinese colleagues present, I wish to thank Secretary of State Kissinger for giving this banquet tonight to entertain us.

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