Premier Hua Guofeng and other distinguished Chinese visitors, Ambassador Ke Hua, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, for your very kind words. May I also thank you, on behalf of all British guests, for your generous hospitality tonight and for this delicious and splendid dinner.
We are delighted to hear that you have found your visit enjoyable and worthwhile. We for our part have enormously enjoyed having you with us. Your informality, friendliness and interest have made a deep impression on our people.
During your time with us you have seen something of Britain's history and of her present achievements. Like you in China, we in Britain have both a great cultural heritage and a great technological future. Like you, we strive to keep the best from the past and to marry it with the exciting prospects for the future. [end p1]
I have found our talks together, Mr. Prime Minister, both fruitful and instructive. We have discussed many things. Some of these have been matters of concern to the peoples of all nations; others have had a particular interest for China and Britain. We have different political systems and each of us will defend our own system vigorously. But on a wide range of issues we have shared views and interests.
Your visit, which one can truly describe as historic, has raised the interests we have in common to a new high level. It has laid a sure foundation for the further development of those interests in the future. [end p2]
We in Britain attach the highest importance to friendly relations with China. We know that a strong and prosperous China is in the interests of Britain, of Europe and of people everywhere. It will be a force for stability and peace in the world. And both our countries wish to see all peoples enjoy the well-being, the happiness and the satisfaction which can only be achieved when nations are at peace. We wish you therefore every success in the great enterprise of modernization on which you have embarked.
We look forward to making a major contribution to that success. I am confident that there lies ahead an era yet closer co-operation between our two countries. Agreements on cultural co-operation and on establishing air services were signed yesterday. They are a concrete expression of the impetus your visit has given to our co-operation. [end p3]
That impetus will surely be sustained.
For I hope, Mr. Prime Minister, that your visit will above all have left you with a clear impression of the goodwill which the British people feel towards China.
This will grow stronger in the years ahead and will show itself in the development of relations between our two countries at every level.
In proposing a toast to Premier Hua Guofeng, we also honour Vice-Premier Yu, Foreign Minister Huang, Ambassador Ke, all our distinguished Chinese friends present here tonight, and we drink to the health and happiness of our friends the Chinese people.