A Speech at the Banquet
(October 2, 1956)

Your Excellency the President, distinguished guests from Indonesia,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It gives us great pleasure to extend a warm welcome to President Sukarno, a good friend of the Chinese people, on his visit to our country.
We are grateful to President Sukarno for bringing with him the fraternal friendship of eighty-two million Indonesian people.
The Indonesian people are a great people. The Chinese people hold the Indonesian people and President Sukarno in the highest regard. Having been subjected to colonial rule for three hundred and fifty years, Indonesia, after a long and arduous struggle, finally won its national independence.
Today, the Indonesian people are bravely fighting to safeguard national unity, gradually eradicate the remnants of colonialism, and defend world peace. President Sukarno’s outstanding role in these struggles, as well as his remarkable achievements during his recent tour of European and American countries, have been unanimously praised by the Chinese people and by all peace-loving and justice-seeking peoples around the world. Indonesia’s abrogation of the Round Table Conference Agreement and its just struggle to reclaim West Irian enjoy the firm support of the Chinese people.
Indonesia’s pursuit of an active, independent, and self-reliant foreign policy is highly beneficial both to the Indonesian people and to world peace. The Bandung Conference has already had a broad and profound impact, and Indonesia made significant contributions to its convening.
Indonesia is playing an increasingly important role in international affairs. We, the peoples of Asia, Africa, and Latin America who cherish freedom and independence, are all opposed to colonialism. On the issue of Egypt’s recovery of the Suez Canal Company, the peoples of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and all peace-loving people worldwide must continue to firmly support Egypt’s just struggle. The colonialists hope to sow division among us, to prevent unity, cooperation, and friendship. In response, we must strengthen solidarity and friendly cooperation, thereby completely thwarting their schemes.
The Chinese and Indonesian peoples have long been good friends. In recent years, our friendship has been further consolidated in our common cause of opposing colonialism and safeguarding world peace. I am convinced that the friendly and cooperative relations between China and Indonesia, founded on the principles of equality, mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence, will be further strengthened and will continue to develop in the future.
I propose that we raise our glasses:
To the friendship between China and Indonesia;
To the peace of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the entire world;
To the prosperity of the Republic of Indonesia and the happiness of its people;
And to the health of President Sukarno.
Cheers!

Photo Archive
On October 2, 1956, Mao Zedong hosted a banquet in honor of Indonesian President Sukarno.
In October 1956, Mao Zedong, Chen Yi, and Sukarno were in Beijing.