Zhao Wei
Make friends all over the world
Sister Deng is not only widely respected by the Chinese, but also enjoys a high reputation among international friends. During her lifetime, Sister Deng made many foreign friends, including heads of state and government officials, politicians and social activists, literary artists, scientists, and ordinary young students. Sister Deng's outstanding wisdom, lofty sentiments and elegant demeanor are deeply admired by foreign friends.
▲Deng Yingchao (February 1982)
A Japanese writer wrote an article entitled "Deng Yingchao's Handshake" after meeting with Sister Deng. The article reads: "She was smiling and her eyes were serene. When shaking hands, the strength is neither strong nor weak, the time is not long or short, it is very cordial and just right. Not only did she use her right hand, but she also gently placed her left hand on the back of my right hand. In an instant, I felt that she was so kind and dignified!", he wrote, adding that Deng Yingchao's handshake "also has an artistic charm that gives people strength and inspiration." After meeting with Sister Deng, the Greek writer Helen Kazanza, she praised her as "an undefeated flower in the wind and snow" and "the sister of Prometheus today".
Sister Deng said in a letter to the Friendship with Foreign Friends: "Sincerity is what you do, and gold and stone are open. As long as we have the spirit of perseverance, we will certainly be able to win the understanding, sympathy, and support of more international friends for the mainland's socialist system and the cause of opening up. Even though she was seriously ill and hospitalized, Sister Deng still carried out the work of winning the support of international public opinion for the cause of socialist reform and opening up on the mainland with perseverance.
At the end of 1991, the Peking Opera "Sakamoto Ryoma", based on the original work of Japanese playwright Shinyama Qingguo, was staged by the China Peking Opera Company in Beijing. Knowing that Mayama Qingguo's daughter, Mayama Miho, came to Beijing to direct the performance, Sister Deng dictated a letter to her during her illness:
Dr. Miho Mayama:
I would have liked to see you as much as you wanted to see me. However, it is a pity that I was not able to see you today because I didn't sleep well last night. I have received the letter full of affection and precious gifts you entrusted to Comrade Wang Xiaoxian. Every time you choose to give me a gift, I think about it again and again, thank you for your sincere friendship with me. I immediately put the blanket over my knees, and the memories of the past came flooding back to me. It has been more than ten years since we met after the death of Comrade Enlai. Our friendship has grown and strengthened over the years. I remember that when Comrade Enlai was alive, he once told me about your situation, and he especially appreciated your literary and artistic ideas of coming from the masses and being with the masses, and hoped that you would continue to walk on this road. I heard that Mr. Mayama came to direct the Peking Opera "Sakamoto Ryoma" this time, and I sincerely wish the performance a success.
On November 7, 1991, our old friend Prince Sihanouk and his wife, Princesses Monique, returned to Cambodia and asked to visit Sister Tang. We made a report to Sister Deng. The eldest sister said: "I should see such an old friend, after more than ten years of fighting, I am going to return to China, how can I not see him?" The doctor was only allowed to meet for a quarter of an hour, but after the meeting, they actually talked for half an hour. Sister Deng praised Prince Sihanouk as a world-famous politician and outstanding patriot. She said that after more than 20 years of war, Cambodia has finally achieved a ceasefire and wants to rebuild its homeland. In this regard, the eldest sister congratulated them. The eldest sister believes that under the leadership of Prince Sihanouk, the Cambodian people will be able to rebuild their country.
In the middle of the conversation, I reminded my eldest sister several times that the time was up. Sister Deng said, "I know. You've always reminded me that you don't have enough warmth and respect for your guests. The Prince's wife, Princess Monique, understood our conversation and looked at us and smiled. At the end of the conversation, I said to Sister Deng, "Sister, the doctor has an opinion, let's send persimmons to the guests." "Prince Sihanouk loves to eat persimmons from our country, and Sister Deng specially prepared some persimmons from the West Flower Hall for them. In this way, the eldest sister ended this meeting.
Concerned about Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao
Premier Zhou and Sister Deng are very concerned about the great cause of the motherland's reunification. Premier Zhou once said: "I don't have to be here to succeed. If I don't see a solution to the Taiwan issue in my lifetime, the next generation will. The solution of the Taiwan issue does not depend on who it is, but on the situation. As long as we sow the seeds and open the way well, one day the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will be reunified. "When Premier Zhou was dying, he still thought about Taiwan's old friends and people.
Sister Deng also deeply cares about the people of Taiwan and the cause of the motherland's reunification. On the afternoon of February 1, 1992, Wang Zhaoguo, on behalf of all the comrades of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, came to visit Sister Deng with flowers, conveyed the comrades' concern for her health, wished her a speedy recovery, and thanked her for her support for their work. Sister Deng said: The reunification of the motherland is long-term and complicated, and the key is to boost the economy, expand the contacts between the people on both sides of the strait, and increase mutual understanding. Therefore, no matter what kind of guests she meets in Taiwan, she always painstakingly publicizes the policies of our party and state toward Taiwan, so that the broad masses of Taiwan compatriots can understand us and let more friends use what they have seen and heard to do work for us. At the same time, when meeting with foreign friends, if the friend has dealings with the Taiwan side, she also asks them to help with Taiwan's work. Sister Deng once said: "If I can live to see the reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, I will definitely go to Taiwan to see the people and old friends there." ”
In March 1992, the Hong Kong adviser came to Beijing for appointment. On March 11, Zha Jimin, Liu Dingzhong, Tan Huizhu and others went to the hospital to visit Sister Deng. Sister Tang thanked them for coming to see her, congratulated them on their election as Hong Kong affairs advisers, and hoped that they would do more work for people from all walks of life in Hong Kong. Sister Deng pointed out: It doesn't matter if some people want to leave Hong Kong, they will come back at a certain time. Sister Tang said: "The central government's policy towards Hong Kong is very clear and consistent. You should be good advisers to the central authorities, learn more about the situation in Hong Kong, put forward opinions for the central authorities' reference, and do more work to stabilize the hearts of the Hong Kong people and enable Hong Kong's smooth return to the motherland. Sister Tang also encouraged Tam Huizhu to do a good job in the Hong Kong women's community.
At the end of the meeting, they all said: The old man is 88 years old, and his thinking is still so clear and agile, which is amazing!
Su Wuzi, the wife of Fei Yimin, the former president of Hong Kong Ta Kung Pao, led her children to visit Sister Deng. They are old friends for decades, and their friendship is deep. Mr. Fei came to Beijing during his lifetime, and Premier Zhou often met with him during his lifetime. They care about each other's health, life, work, and family. Su Wuzi thanked Sister Deng and Premier Zhou for their concern for their family, and Sister Deng repeatedly said that this should be done.
▲On November 5, 1985, Deng Yingchao met with Ma Wanqi (front right) and his wife Luo Baixin (front left).
The President of the Macao Chamber of Commerce, Ma Man Kei, and his wife, Lo Pak Xin, brought flowers to the hospital to visit Sister Tang. Sister Deng is very grateful to them for coming to visit, and also thanks them for sending their children to visit. Mr. and Mrs. Ma Man-kei have a deep affection for Sister Deng, and Sister Deng also admires Mr. Ma Man-kei's contribution to the motherland.
Care about the work of the CPPCC
On the afternoon of January 28, 1992, Hong Xuezhi, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Song Demin, secretary general, and other representatives of Chairman Li Xiannian, Vice Chairman Wang Renzhong and all comrades visited Sister Deng in the hospital and wished Sister Deng a good Spring Festival and a long and healthy life!
▲In March 1988, Deng Yingchao and Li Xiannian walked into the preparatory meeting venue of the first session of the Seventh National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
I introduced them to Sister Deng. Sister Deng said: "I remember them. Thank you for taking the time to come and see me when you're so busy with work. Please greet Comrade Xiannian, Comrade Wang Renzhong, and all the comrades of the CPPCC on my behalf!" Sister Deng also said: "The CPPCC has done a good job. The work of the CPPCC is very important, and it is not only the work of our party to the democratic parties. Over the past several decades, our party has attached great importance to united front work, and this work must not be relaxed at any time. Hong Xuezhi said: "Sister Deng is highly respected, and the people of the whole country respect you. You have done a lot of work at the Sixth CPPCC, and you have personally taken care of all major matters. You said a lot, and everyone remembered it and did it. "We still have to work hard. Sister Deng continued: "Although I have retired and am not the chairman of the CPPCC, I still care about the CPPCC and think about the CPPCC!" Hong Xuezhi said: "Sister Deng is not the current chairman, but our former chairman." Your health and longevity are the happiness of the people of the whole country and the comrades of the CPPCC. We all wish you a long life!" Sister Deng said modestly: "I have done a little work, and that is the leadership of the party. I didn't do more work because I wasn't in good health. Your current election is strong, and your work is better than ours, and you are becoming more and more active, expanding and expanding, and doing better and better. Hong Xuezhi immediately said: "Sister Deng has done a lot of work. You are loved and respected by the people of the whole country, and your ideological and moral character is worthy of our admiration and study. Sister Deng said humorously: "I can't live well now, and I can't live long if I want to, and now I am mentally immortal." I am just an ordinary Communist Party member, and now I have nothing to do, and I still have to fight to stay alive and fight against diseases. At all times, I hold myself to the standard of a party member. Hong Xuezhi said: "Sister Deng is still concerned about national affairs and comrades. Your teachings are always in our hearts. ”
This was the last time Sister Deng talked with the responsible comrades of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
After Sister Deng retired in March 1988, I also served as the deputy secretary-general of the Seventh National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. She is always concerned about the CPPCC, regardless of her physical condition. She often said to me: "If there is anything going on with the CPPCC, you have to go, don't worry about me, I have no urgent matter here." "During the CPPCC session, she always asked me when the meeting and group meeting would be held, and at the same time told me that if I saw an old friend or someone asked about her, I must convey her thanks and greetings. Later, she often sent me to attend meetings on her behalf and visit old friends......
I remember that in February 1992, the National United Front Work Conference was held, and the CPPCC party group sent me to attend the meeting. When I came back to brief her on the meeting, she said: The meeting was held in a timely and good manner, and it is very beneficial to focus on the united front work, and it is important for all localities to exchange work experience with each other and learn from each other's strong points and make up for each other's weaknesses.
During her hospitalization, Zhao Puchu, a well-known figure in the religious circles and vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and his wife Chen Bangzhi often visited her. They are all concerned about each other's physical condition and encourage each other to take care. Sister Deng especially said to Zhao Puchu: "You have to combine work and rest, don't be too tired." Cao Yu, a member of the theater industry and a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was also hospitalized at the time. Sister Deng is very concerned about his condition. Cao Yu is also extremely concerned about the eldest sister's condition. Whenever there were flowers, Sister Deng instructed me to give them to Zhao Puchu and Cao Yu so that they could enjoy them together.
This article is excerpted from the 99th volume of Henan Cultural and Historical Materials, published in September 2006. The original title was "She Returned to the Embrace of the Sea - Remembering Deng Yingchao Before and After His Death". Zhao Wei has worked beside Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao for 37 years, and has served as deputy secretary-general of the Sixth and Seventh National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, deputy director of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Taiwan Affairs, and member of the Eighth and Ninth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.