For the thousands of foreign visitors who travelled behind the ‘bamboo curtain’ to visit Mao’s China, hospitality workers were unofficial ambassadors for the new socialist state, and the state knew it.
🔒 September’s cover feature is still available in the archive
https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/visiting-maos-china
Find out what else is inside the latest issue of History Today and order it directly from our store at https://www.historytoday.com/magazine
1972年周恩來與尼可森上海錦江大飯店餐桌背景的花叢
我們──美國人民──願與中國人民一道，共同致力於這項原則：絕不能讓外國的統治或佔領降臨到這座城市、中國的任何土地，或世界上的任何獨立國家身上。
總理先生，今晚，我們兩國人民的手中掌握著世界的未來。在展望這一未來之際，我們矢志不渝地堅持這項原則：我們要建立一個新世界──一個和平、公正、各國享有獨立的世界。
如果我們能在尋求共同點的基礎上精誠合作，如果我們能找到彼此立足的共同點，從而架起溝通的橋樑並共建一個新世界，那麼未來的世世代代回首往事時，定會因我們過去這一周所舉行的會晤而向我們致以謝意。
“不負眾望”
願中國人民和偉大的美國人民不負全世界的期望與理想，共同追求和平、正義與進步。
本著這種精神，我提議大家舉杯，為毛澤東主席和周恩來總理的健康，為今晚在座的所有中國朋友和美國朋友，以及正如張主席所言、充滿深厚情誼的我們兩國人民之間的友誼，乾杯！------
President Richard Nixon told the story of his historic 1972 Shanghai dinner with Chinese Premier Chou En-lai (Zhou Enlai) as a triumphant moment of bridging two worlds, famously declaring it the conclusion of ["the week that changed the world."] Held on February 27, 1972, at the Shanghai Industrial Exhibition Hall, the 600-person banquet celebrated the successful completion of the Shanghai Communiqué, which reopened diplomatic communication between the U.S. and China after 25 years of isolation. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
In his official toast, public statements, and later in The Memoirs of Richard Nixon, the president highlighted several memorable aspects of that evening: [1, 2, 3]
🍾 The Famous "Week That Changed the World" Toast
- A New Beginning: He stated, "This magnificent banquet marks the end of our stay in the People's Republic of China... This was the week that changed the world." [1]
- Building Bridges: He emphasized that despite their great political differences, both nations had successfully built a bridge across a long diplomatic gulf. [1, 2]
- Mutual Respect: Nixon praised his hosts, noting that their talks were marked by "frankness, by honesty, by determination and above all by mutual respect." [1]
🥢 "Chopstick Diplomacy" and Food Cultural Exchanges
Nixon recalled the dinner as an intense but rewarding lesson in cultural respect: [1]
- Practicing in Secret: Nixon knew the world would be watching him on television. To avoid embarrassing himself or insulting his hosts, he practiced using chopsticks for weeks at the White House before traveling. [1, 2]
- The Menu: The massive dinner featured iconic Chinese dishes like Peking duck, dumplings, fried rice, and shark’s fin soup. Nixon later remarked on how the dinner triggered a massive wave of popularity for Chinese food back in the United States. [1]
🍶 Braving the "Liquid Gasoline" (Mao-tai)
One of the most vivid memories from the 1972 dinners involved drinking Mao-tai, a highly potent Chinese liquor made from sorghum: [1]
- The Warning: Before the trip, Nixon’s advisors tested the drink and explicitly cabled a warning to Washington: "Under no circumstances should the president actually drink from his glass." [1]
- Matching Chou Glass-for-Glass: Nixon ignored the warning to maintain diplomatic etiquette. He matched Premier Chou En-lai toast-for-toast, later describing the fiery drink as tasting like "liquid gasoline". [1]
📻 The Strategic Timing for American Viewers
Nixon was highly aware of the media power of this dinner. He and his team intentionally timed the banquet and the release of the Shanghai Communiqué so it would hit American television screens during prime-time hours back home, ensuring the American public witnessed the historic thaw in the Cold War live
沒有留言:
張貼留言