Xi Zhongxun’s Declaration to FR3 on November 28, 83, Monday

[Handwritten] Scheduled on 11.28.83 [End handwritten]

[Handwritten] Xi Zhongxun’s declaration to FR3^[1] on November 28, 83, Monday. [End handwritten]

Mandated by our Party’s Central Committee, and at the invitation of the P.C.F.’s C.C., I am heading a C.C.P.’s delegation for a friendly visit in France.

During the first 3 days in Paris, we have had cordial and brotherly interviews with our comrades from the P.C.F.’s C.C., regarding the situation of both of our countries, the development of cooperation relations between our two parties as well as other questions of common interest. The day before yesterday, we arrived in Bordeaux, a beautiful city in the South West of France. As soon as we got off the plane; our comrades from the Gironde Federation, the Bordeaux and Bègles^[2] section of the P.C.F. welcomed us with great warmth and hospitality. I would like to extend here my sincere thanks on behalf of our entire delegation.

On behalf of the Chinese communists and the Chinese people, the C.C.P.’s delegation is warmly greeting the French communists and the French people. During our visit in Gironde; land of the famous Bordeaux wine, we got the opportunity to learn about the progressive work carried out in Gironde by the French communists, bearers of a rich tradition of glorious fights to promote political, economic and social changes. We had the opportunity to visit vineyards and great cellars, to visit smallholder families and to get to know the life of French workers. Although our visit in Bordeaux was short, [handwritten open square bracket] the visits and the discussions that took place there taught us a lot, they will contribute to deepen the mutual knowledge between us and to strengthen the friendship and solidarity between the French and the Chinese parties and the people of our two countries. [Handwritten closed square bracket]

[Handwritten open square bracket] I take advantage of that opportunity to sincerely wish that the comrades [illegible handwritten word] of the Gironde Federation, of the Bordeaux and Bègles section and all the communists of the Department^[3] all the best in their future endeavours, that the relations of friendship and cooperation between the French and the Chinese parties keep on developing and that the friendship between our two countries in our two people [handwritten] lasts forever [end handwritten]. [Handwritten closed square bracket encompassing the entire paragraph]

^[1] Translator's note: France Région 3 (now France 3) was a public TV channel.

^[2] Translator's note: City in the Bordeaux region.

^[3] Translator's note: A Department is a French administrative division below the regional level; Gironde is a Department.