Speech at Banquet For Voroshilov
(April 17, 1957)

Source: RMRB (April 18, 1957), 1. Other Chinese Texts: XHBYK, 108 (May 25,
1957), 8; Buyi, pp. 144–145; XHBYK, 144 (Nov. 1958), pp. 4, 6, 7, 8, (quotations).
Available English Translation: NCNA, Daily News Release (April 18, 1957), 2–3.

For Voroshilov’s visit, see text April 15, 1957(2), source note. This speech was made at the
state banquet held in Voroshilov’s honor by Mao at Huairen Hall.

APRIL – JUNE 1957 / 487

This speech being what it is, a welcoming speech for a state banquet, it is understandable that much of what is said is diplomatic and formalistic. Nonetheless, there are still
things of substance here that should not be overlooked. One may, for instance, remark at
the consistency of Mao’s approach to the (at least public) interpretation of the Russian
October Revolution and on the Sino-Soviet alliance and friendship between the time of
this speech and the speech Mao made much later in the year when he himself visited the
Soviet Union (see text Nov. 6, 1957). This is notable, especially in view of the fact that at
the same time, as seen in the January and February speeches of this year, there were
already things in the Soviet Union that were arousing serious concerns on Mao’s part.

Dear Comrade President Voroshilov,
Dear Comrades of the Soviet Union,
Comrades, Friends:
We feel extremely joyous today for this happy gathering with the representative of
our great ally, Comrade Voroshilov, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
of the Soviet Union, and [with] the other guests who have come from the Soviet Union.
Comrade Voroshilov is one of the outstanding leaders of the Soviet state and
the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. For decades, he has made persevering
and untiring efforts for the victory of the October Socialist Revolution, for the
strengthening of the forces of national defense of the Soviet Union and the
development of the cause of communism, and has made excellent contributions [to
these causes]. Comrade Voroshilov is the dearest and closest comrade and friend
of the Chinese people, and with this visit to our country he has brought to us the
brotherly friendship of the great people of the Soviet Union. On behalf of the
Chinese people, the Chinese government, and the Communist Party of China, I
extend a warm welcome to our honored guests.
Forty years ago, the people of the Soviet Union, under the leadership of the great
revolutionary teacher, Lenin, and the leadership of the Communist Party of the
Soviet Union, acted as pathbreakers for a new world and founded the first socialist
state. This was a turning point in the history of the human race. In these forty years,
the people of the Soviet Union not only have carried out magnificent socialist
construction at home, but have also made incomparable contributions to the cause
of peace [and] progress throughout the world. The laboring people of the whole
world can see in the Soviet people the bright road to their own liberation and to the
construction of a happy society for humanity. We, the Chinese people, have been
following exactly the path of the Socialist October Revolution in achieving [our]
victories and successes of today. The Chinese people have always seen the Chinese
Revolution as a continuation of the great Socialist October Revolution, and take
this to be a tremendous honor.
In the process of struggling to achieve national liberation, the Chinese people
had the brotherly sympathy and support of the people of the Soviet Union. After
the victory of the Chinese Revolution, the Soviet Union again gave all-round and
tremendous help to the cause of China’s socialist construction. These are all [things]
that the Chinese people can never forget. Here, on behalf of the Chinese people
and the Chinese government, I would again like to express [my] heartfelt thanks
to the people and the government of the Soviet Union.


In the socialist revolutionary struggle and in the process of the protracted construction of socialism and communism, the people of the Soviet Union have accumulated
a most abundant [store of] experience. These experiences are a great treasure for the
laboring people of the whole world. The Chinese people, both in their past revolutionary
struggles and in their present cause of constructing socialism, have learned a great deal
of valuable things from the Soviet Union. From now on, the Chinese people must still
continue to reinforce their study of the advanced experience of the Soviet Union in
order to speed up China’s construction of socialism.1
The great peoples of the two countries of China and the Soviet Union are the most
intimate brothers, and the most reliable comrades-in-arms. In the noble cause of
strengthening the unity of the socialist camp, defending world peace, and promoting
the progress of humanity, we, the Chinese people, resolutely stand together with the
people of the Soviet Union. Imperialism’s forces of aggression are always trying by
every possible method to sow discord between our two countries and to undermine our
unity and friendly relations. But reality has proven that these plots of theirs can never
succeed. No force in the world can separate us. The friendship of the 800 million people
of China and the Soviet Union is eternal and impregnable.
Let us raise our glasses; [let us drink:]
To the invulnerable brotherly friendship of the peoples of the two countries of
China and the Soviet Union,
To the further consolidation and strengthening of the grand unity of the great
socialist family [of nations] with the Soviet Union at its head,
To the ever-growing development of friendly and cooperative relations among
all peace-loving and freedom-loving countries and peoples,
To world peace,
To even more magnificent achievements in the Soviet Union’s construction of
communism,
And to Chairman Voroshilov’s health and long life!
Bottoms up!

Note

1. See text Jan. 27, 1957(1), note 34.