# Secretary Kissinger's Talks in China, November 1974/Ch'iao-HAK Exchange of Toasts Nov 25

​PRESS
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
November 26, 1974
No. 513
EXCHANGE OF TOASTS BETWEEN HIS EXCELLENCY CHIAO KUAN-HUA FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THE HONORABLE HENRY A. KISSINGER SECRETARY OF STATE AT A BANQUET IN PEKING NOVEMBER 25, 1974
Foreign Minister Chiao Kuan-Hua
The Honorable Secretary of State and Mrs. Kissinger, all the other American guests, comrades and friends:
The last three years or more, Dr. Kissinger has come a long way across the ocean to visit our country on six occasions. We are glad that he has now come to Peking again, providing our two sides with an opportunity to continue the exchange of views on the normalization of Sino-American relations and on international issues of common interest. Here, I wish to bid welcome to Secretary of State Kissinger, to Mrs. Kissinger who is in China for the first time, and to the other American guests accompanying the Secretary of State on the visit.
A year has elapsed since the last visit of Mr. Secretary of State. In this year the international situation has undergone great changes, which further demonstrate that the current international situation is characterized by great disorder under heaven. The entire world is amidst intense turbulence and unrest. This reflects the sharpening of various contradictions and is something independent of man's will. The history of mankind always moves forward amidst turmoil. In our view, such turmoil is a good thing, and not a bad thing.
The Chinese and American peoples have always been friendly to each other. After more than two decades of estrangement, the door was opened for exchanges between the two countries, and the friendly relations between the two peoples have developed. Here, we ought to mention the pioneering role Mr. Richard Nixon played in this regard, and we also note with appreciation President Ford's statement that he would continue to implement the Shanghai Communique.
China and the United States have different social systems, and there are differences between us on a series of matters of principle. But this does not hinder us from finding common ground on certain matters. It is always beneficial for the two sides to have candid exchanges of views and increase mutual understanding. On the whole, Sino-American relations have in these years been moving ahead. We believe that the current visit of Mr. Secretary of State will contribute to the further implementation of the principles established in the Shanghai Communique.
I propose a toast to the friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.
​To the health of the Secretary of State and Mrs. Kissinger, to the health of all the other American guests, and to the health of all comrades and friends present here.
Secretary Kissinger
Mr. Vice Premier, Mr. Foreign Minister, distinguished guests, friends:
I appreciate this warm reception on my seventh visit to China, which is all the more meaningful to me because I am accompanied by my wife and by my children. I am glad that they can share what to the American people and to all of us in public life will always be one of the most significant initiatives of American foreign policy.
The beginning of the process of normalization of relations with the People's Republic of China, and its continuation in the years since then, has not been a matter of expediency but a fixed principle of American foreign policy.
Since I was here last, there have been many changes internationally and some changes in the United States. But it was no accident that the new American President saw your Ambassador the first afternoon he was in office, within a few hours of having taken his oath of office, and that he reaffirmed on that occasion that we would continue to pursue the principles of the Shanghai Communique and that we would continue to follow the goal of normalization of relations with the People's Republic of China.
And President Ford has sent me here to continue the fruitful exchanges of views that we have had in every year, to continue the process of normalization and to affirm again the fixed principles of American foreign policy.
I look forward to my talks with the Vice Premier and the Foreign Minister. I am glad that I have already had an opportunity to see the Prime Minister and to recall the many occasions of previous visits when we exchanged views.
We live in a period of great change and a period that is characterized by much upheaval. We believe that this change must lead to a new and better order for all of the peoples of the world, and it is to this goal that American foreign policy is dedicated.
We consider the exchanges on these subjects as well as others with the leaders of the People's Republic of China of the greatest consequence.
We agree that in the last years, relations between our two countries have moved ahead steadily. I am here to continue this process, and I am confident that it will succeed.
So, I would like to propose a toast to the friendship of the American and Chinese peoples and to the health and long life of the Vice Premier and the Foreign Minister, and to the health and long life of Chairman Mao and to our lasting friendship.