--- Notes

Reply Given Upon Accepting the Letters of Credence from Mr. Gopallawa, the Newly Appointed Ambassador of Ceylon to China (July 7, 1958) Chairman Mao Zedong delivered the following reply: “As one of the initiating countries of the Asian–African Conference, Ceylon is playing an increasingly important role in international affairs.
In recent years, the government and people of Ceylon have made great efforts and valuable contributions to striving for world peace, safeguarding national independence, opposing colonialism, and promoting international cooperation—especially friendly cooperation among Asian and African nations.
These efforts have earned them the respect and warm welcome of the peoples of Asia and Africa, as well as of the Chinese people.
The Chinese government and people are willing to continue working together with the government and people of Ceylon, and with all peace-loving countries and peoples around the world, for the cause of world peace and human happiness.
As Your Excellency has pointed out, the Chinese and Ceylonese peoples have maintained friendly exchanges and close ties of friendship since ancient times.
Last month, the prime ministers of China and Ceylon issued a joint statement jointly reaffirming the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, thereby establishing a new and solid foundation for our historic bonds of friendship.
I am firmly convinced that on this basis, the traditional friendship between the Chinese and Ceylonese peoples will continue to develop more extensively.
I warmly welcome Your Excellency’s appointment as the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ceylon to the People’s Republic of China, and I pledge to provide you with full support and assistance in your work to strengthen the friendly relations between China and Ceylon.
I wish your country prosperity and its people flourishing progress.”
Printed according to the news report published in the People’s Daily on July 8, 1958.
Note [1]: Ceylon refers to present-day Sri Lanka.


Comments on the Issue of Reservoirs Being Destroyed by Heavy Rainfall [1] (July 8, 1958) To Comrade Peng Zhen [2]: Please review this item concerning Henan Province, where heavy rains have destroyed several reservoirs; it deserves attention.
Mao Zedong, July 8. Printed based on the manuscript.
Two: A number of small and medium-sized reservoirs have been destroyed.
Printed according to Mao Zedong’s manuscript.
Notes [1]: These two comments were written on Issue No. of the Xinhua News Agency’s “Internal Reference” compiled and printed on July 4, 1958.
Specifically: (1) the first comment was inscribed on the cover of that issue; (2) the second comment was written beside the Xinhua News Agency’s Zhengzhou dispatch titled “Severe Flood Damage in Parts of Henan Province,” which appeared in that same issue.
According to the Xinhua report: From June 27 to 30, torrential rains struck certain areas of Henan Province.
The heaviest rainfall occurred in the upper reaches of the Sha River, encompassing Baofeng County, Jia County, Ye County, as well as the Zhenping area within the Bai River basin.
Due to the concentrated intensity and sheer volume of the rain, severe flooding ensued.
In Pingdingshan City alone, sixteen reservoirs, thirty-five ponds, and eighty-one embankments were washed away.
In Likou Township of Jia County, the earth dam of the Shanshui Reservoir collapsed, allowing floodwaters to inundate Zhangdian Village.
In Daiji Township of Baofeng County, thirty-five out of forty-two small reservoirs were destroyed.
Ye County saw two medium-sized and three small reservoirs swept away, while Yanshi County lost five reservoirs.
In Zhenping County, seven irrigation canals, one intake gate, fifteen river barriers, and six small reservoirs were completely destroyed.
Following the disaster, local Party and government leaders immediately led cadres in rescue operations.
The floodwaters have now largely receded, and affected areas are transitioning into post-disaster recovery work. [2]: Peng Zhen, at that time a Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.