Special gift of Canadian Prime Minister's visit to China

1973 10, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau visited China, and Zhou Enlai personally greeted him at the Capital Airport. Trudeau made careful preparations for this visit to China.

Trudeau went to great lengths to prepare a gift for the people of China. Send what? He called a special meeting to collect suggestions. Some say that China has a long and ancient civilization, so we will give Canadian Indians artistic masks or totem poles; Some say that China immigrants have made great contributions to Canadian railway construction and sent a bronze sculpture to show the hardships of China workers in repairing railways; Someone suggested giving one or two pieces of ancient China cultural relics collected by Canadian museums.

Trudeau didn't comment on most of the suggestions, but as soon as he heard the suggestion of returning Canadian ancient cultural relics from China to Beijing, he immediately opposed it. He knows the modern history of China, and the cultural relics flowing out of China are either stolen or taken away as gifts, which will hurt the feelings of China people.

The chance to decide what gift to give later is like this. Foreign Minister Sharp told Trudeau that not long ago, the French Embassy in China held a social activity. Among them, a China riddle guessed by diplomats from various countries is: Who is the most famous Canadian in the world? The guest listed many things, but they were all rejected. The last China pupil who just moved to France with his parents guessed it right. It was Bethune.

At that time, a Canadian diplomat in France said: In Canada, few people know who Bethune is. However, the China embassy staff who gave the riddle explained: Norman? Dr. Bethune is a household name in China, and even primary and secondary school textbooks in China are telling the story of Bethune. China's 800 million people, at least 600 million of whom know it, are of course the most famous Canadians in the world.

Trudeau was lost in thought after hearing this, and recalled his visits to various parts of China when he led a French-speaking cultural delegation to visit China before entering politics. Wherever people go, as long as they hear that they are Canadians, they will show sincere and cordial smiles on their faces and receive extra warm hospitality.

Trudeau knew the mystery of Bethune's name, which was the spiritual bond between Canada and China. He let people know Bethune's hometown in Ontario and learned that Bethune left a batch of relics in his hometown before his death. Trudeau was very happy. He found the best gift to the people of China during his visit to China-the medical equipment used by Bethune before his death.

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