Significant official menu from the dinner honoring Pakistani Foreign Minister Sharifuddin Pirzada on the occasion of his historic visit to China, held in Beijing on October 25, 1966, one page, 3.25 x 6.25, signed in blue ballpoint by Vice Premier Chou En-lai, Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Yi and his wife Zhang Qian, and President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Guo Moruo. The menu bears the state emblem of Pakistan, as the dinner was hosted by Pakistan's ambassador to China; it lists courses of "Mushroom cream soup, Fried Prawns, Chicken a'la kiev, Biriani, Chicken curry, Shami Kabab, vegetable, Ginger pudding, Fruits." In very fine condition.
This menu was signed for Foreign Minister of Pakistan Sharifuddin Pirzada (1923–2017), who was the first statesman invited to visit the Chinese government after the beginning of the ‘Cultural Revolution.’ Pirzada and his wife arrived in Peking on October 22, 1966, to conduct a friendly diplomatic visit. The Peking Review of October 28th reported on the visit, taking specific note of the dinner associated with this menu: 'On October 25, Pakistan Ambassador Sultan Mohammad Khan gave a banquet to mark the Pakistan Foreign Minister's visit to China. Premier Chou En-lai attended. Speaking at the banquet, Vice-Premier Chen Yi strongly denounced the Indian reactionaries who, backed by the U.S. imperialists and the Soviet modern revisionists, 'are energetically continuing their arms expansion and war preparation, obdurately pursuing their big-nation chauvinist and expansionist policies, ruthlessly persecuting the Kashmiri people who are fighting for the right to self-determination, and tightening their control over Bhutan which is striving to win independence.' Chen Yi added: 'At the same time, the Indian reactionaries have raised a hue and cry about what they call China-Pakistan 'collaboration' and 'threat' to India and have concocted lies that Chinese troops have 'intruded into Bhutan,' all in a vain attempt to sow discord between China and her neighbouring countries so as to realize their ulterior motives.'' Accompanied by a photocopy of the article.
Chinese revolutionary and politician Zhou Enlai (1898-1976) was the chief diplomatic representative of the Communist Party as the Premier of the People's Republic of China from 1949 to 1976. A Marshal of the People's Liberation Army, Chen Yi (1901–1972) served under Zhou as Vice Premier from 1954 until his death in 1972, acting as Foreign Minister beginning in 1958. Both autographs are scarce and highly sought.
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