4.6 SAMPLETOASTS
Sample 4（1）:A State Dinner Toast
Fpeech by President Xi J inping，also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central M ilitary Commission，at thereception in celebration of the70th anniversary of thefounding of the People's R epublic of China(October 1，2019)
Ladies and Gentlemen，Comrades and Friends，
In this golden season of autumn，we are gathered here to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.For the Chinese people of all ethnic groups and Chinese sons and daughters at home and abroad，this is a joyful moment—a moment to celebrate the 70th birthday of our great People's Republic and to salute the epic progress of our motherland during the past seven decades.
Over the past 70 years，under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China（CPC），the Chinese people，with great courage and relentless exploration，have successfully opened the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.Along this path，we have ushered in a new era.Having caught up with the world in great strides，we are now marching forward at the forefront of the times with boundless energy！
Over the past 70 years，the Chinese people，with perseverance and strenuous efforts，have made development achievements that are the marvel of the world.Absolute poverty，which has haunted the Chinese nation for thousands of years，will soon become a thing of the past.This will be a great miracle in human history！
Over the past 70 years，the Chinese people，upholding an independent foreign policy of peace，have forged ahead along the path of peaceful development.Guided by the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence，we have deepened friendship and cooperation with other countries and made an important contribution to building a community with a shared future for mankind and advancing the noble cause of peace and development for humanity！
Seventy years are but a fleeting moment in human history.But for the Chinese people，for our nation，these have been 70 years of epoch-making changes.The Chinese nation has realized a tremendous transformation：it has stood up，grown rich and is becoming stronger；it has come to embrace the brilliant prospects of national renewal.This phenomenal transformation brings infinite pride to every son and daughter of the Chinese nation！
Here on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council，Ipay high tribute to the Chinese people of all ethnic groups and all CPC members，to officers and men of the People's Liberation Army and members of the armed police，and to all the other political parties and personages with no party affiliations in China！I wish to convey sincere greetings to fellow Chinese in the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions，in Taiwan and residing abroad！I also wish to express heartfelt thanks to all the countries and international friends who have given support and help to the development of New China！
Comrades and Friends！
Unity is iron and steel；unity is a source of strength.It is what has enabled the Chinese people and the Chinese nation to move forward against all risks and challenges，from one victory to another.
In our new journey，we must hold high the banner of unity and rally closely around the CPC Central Committee.We must cement the great unity of all our ethnic groups，and strengthen the great unity of all Chinese sons and daughters at home and abroad and of all political parties，organizations，ethnic groups，social strata and fronts.We must maintain the close bond between the CPC and the people and promote patriotism.Thus we will create an unparalleled force that will power the ship of our national renewal to clip waves and reach its destination.
Comrades and Friends！
We will continue to fully and faithfully implement the principles of“One Country，Two Systems”，“Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong”，“Macao people administering Macao”and a high degree of autonomy.We will act in strict accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Laws.We are confident that with the full backing of the motherland and the concerted efforts of our fellow Chinese in Hong Kong and Macao who love the motherland as well as their communities，Hong Kong and Macao will prosper and progress alongside the mainland and embrace an even brighter future！
We will uphold the one-China principle and the“1992 Consensus”，promote the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait，and deepen cross-Strait economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation to the benefit of people on both sides.The complete reunification of the motherland is an inevitable trend；it is what the greater national interests entail and what all Chinese people aspire for.No one and no force can ever stop it！
We will hold high the banner of peace，development，cooperation and mutual benefit，and keep firmly to the path of peaceful development.We will stay committed to opening-up and work with people in all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind，and to create a world bathed in peace and development.
Comrades and Friends，
The Chinese people are great people，the Chinese nation is a great nation，and Chinese civilization is a great civilization.History will shed light on the future，and our journey ahead will be a long one.We are convinced that the Chinese people and the Chinese nation，with a proud civilization spanning over five millennia and great accomplishments during the past 70-year history of New China，will write a more brilliant chapter in our new journey toward the realization of the Two Centenary Goals and the Chinese Dream of great national renewal.
Now please join me in a toast：
To the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China；
To the prosperity and strength of China and the happiness and well-being of the Chinese people of all ethnic groups；
To the friendship and cooperation between the people of China and all other countries；and
To the health of all the guests，comrades and friends present.
Cheers！
Sample 4（2）:A Return Toast
President Hu：（as translated）
Mr.President，and Mrs.Bush，distinguished guests，ladies and gentlemen，dear friends：First of all，Iwish to express on behalf of my wife and my colleagues and in my own way，my sincere thanks to you，Mr.President，and Mrs.Bush for your thoughtful arrangements and gracious hospitality.Ialso wish to thank the President and Mrs.Bush for giving me this important opportunity to renew my friendship with old friends and make new ones at this grand welcoming luncheon.
Over the years，all of you present here have worked to promote the friendship between our two peoples and promote China-US relations.On behalf of the Chinese government and the people，Iwish to hereby extend our warm greetings and best wishes to you and through you to all the Americans who care about and support the growth of China-USrelations.
On this visit，I have keenly felt the warm friendship of the American people towards the Chinese people.In the past，the Chinese and the Americans sympathized with，helped and supported each other.We will never forget the invaluable support given to us by the American government and people in our struggle against fascist aggression.We will always cherish our profound friendship with the American people forged over the long years.
In the past 27 years，since the establishment of our diplomatic ties，China-USrelations have，as a whole，moved ahead，despite difficulties and problems.Recent years，in particular，have seen major progress in building constructive and cooperative China-US relations.We have carried out fruitful cooperation in wide-ranging areas，including trade，counterterrorism，nonproliferation，and on major international and regional issues.This has expanded the common strategic interests of our two countries，and promoted world peace and development.
As history has shown，to ensure the continued growth of China-USrelations represents the shared desire of our two peoples and meets the fundamental interests of our two countries and peoples.
As we look across the world，we find ourselves in an era of both opportunities and challenges.China and the United States，respectively being the largest developing country and the largest developed country，share growing common interests，expanding areas for cooperation and increasing historical responsibilities.China-US relations have gone far beyond the bilateral context and have become increasingly global in nature.China and the United States are not only stakeholders，but they should also be constructive partners—be parties of constructive cooperation.
Just now，President Bush and I have concluded an in-depth exchange of views and reached a broad and important agreement on China-US relations，and regional and international issues of mutual interest.We agreed to maintain regular high-level exchanges and increase interactions at various levels.We agreed to deepen economic and trade cooperation，enhance dialogue on macroeconomic policies，and strengthen communication and coordination of major regional and international issues.
We also agreed to promote people-to-people exchanges，especially those among young people，and promote exchange and cooperation in cultural，educational，and other fields.In short，we are committed to increasing mutual trust，deepening cooperation，and advancing in an all-around way，the constructive and cooperative China-USrelationship in the 21st century.
As you all know，China has，since the late 1970s，gone through major transformations in the process of reform and opening up.In the years to come，China will continue to make economic development a top priority，press ahead with the reform and the opening up program，promote its modernization drive，and endeavor to make life better for its 1.3 billion people.
China will keep firmly to the path of peaceful development and work unswervingly to safeguard world peace and promote common development.What has happened has proven，and it will continue to prove，that China's development has brought about prosperity and stability to the Chinese people，and peace and progress to people elsewhere in the world.
China will，as always，live in peace with other countries and work with them to promote mutually beneficial cooperation and common development，contributing even more to the lofty cause of peace and development and of mankind.
China-USrelations now stand at a new historical juncture.Let me quote here the lines of a poem written by Du Fu，a great Chinese poet，in the Tang Dynasty，entitled“A View from the Top of Mount Tai”，which reads something like this：“Climb up to the summit and see the mountains around and below we are.”
We should view and handle our relations from a strategic and long-term perspective，keep to the common strategic interests of the two countries，enhance dialogue，mutual trust and cooperation，accommodate each other's interests，and properly address differences.By doing so，I'm confident that we can ensure the sound and steady growth of China-USrelations and bring more benefits to both our two peoples and to people of other countries.(https://www.daowen.com)
Now，please join me in a toast to the health of the President and Mrs.Bush，to the health of all friends present here today，to the friendship between the Chinese and the American peoples，and to the bright future for China-USrelations.
（A toast is offered.）
（Applause）
Sample 4（3）:A Wedding Toast
Good evening，everyone.
What can I say about my son，Larry？Well，he's an extraordinary young man，living an extraordinary life for starters.He has always been extraordinary，in fact.And here are just a few samplings of a life that's long in texture，rich in accomplishment and...well...yes...extraordinary.
Larry was the 3rd of three boys，coming after Joe and David.He had beautiful，golden blonde curls，a mischievous set of ice blue eyes，a sunny disposition and a competitive nature that was sharp and strong as steel.
He had no fear whatsoever.Before he could swim，he jumped into the deep end of a swimming pool and sank like a stone.He was blue when I pulled him out.Then he jumped right back in again.
He always wanted to be better，higher，bigger，faster.At 4，he was taken by his uncle to ride a real horse.But the horse was slow and Larry，perturbed as usual，demanded that his uncle“press the button and make the horse go faster”.
Naturally，someone as fearless as Larry spent a lot of time in emergency rooms.Dislocated joints，sprained fingers and ankles were commonplace.Once he split his knee wide open.We were such regular customers that Iused to get paranoid，worried that the doctors thought Iwas abusing my adorable little golden-haired hellion.
Tough as he was，he was never afraid to show affection.Even as a teenager，when he'd be cavorting with all of his buddies at the mall，if he saw me there he'd stop everything，come over and give me a great big hug.He did the same with his grandmother，too.
After college，he was bored and uncertain of what to do，so he decided to take off for Japan and a gig teaching English to Japanese businessmen.Ididn't want my baby traipsing off to the other side of the world and I was very upset.But Larry is so smart.He actually wrote up a contract，promising me that he'd always be my baby—if Iwould let him go to Japan.Iwas charmed.I was moved.Iwas scared to death.But I signed the contract.He went to Japan and had the year of his life.In fact，I have to admit，the experience was wonderful.And，per the contract，Ihave him back.He is my baby for life.
He was the youngest firefighter hired in Vancouver.He's a self-taught contractor who，along with big brother Mike，bought a house，fixed it up and sold it 8 months later for a small fortune.He learned to drive big rig air brake trucks.He's a deep sea rescue expert and a Coast Guard volunteer.He played professional basketball—in Poland，yet.
And now，I lose my baby again.But not to Japan.Instead，to a lovely young woman.He met Thelma in 2006.She matured him，polished his edges，gave him a beautiful son，Billy，in January.They're very much in love and they're very good for each other.Iwish them both a world of happiness—and a world of eternal love.Besides，no matter what，Larry will always be my baby.I have the signed contract to prove it.
Love，Mom
Sample 4（4）:A Best Man Toast at a Wedding
Good Evening.
My name is James，and on behalf of Matthew and Angie，Iwould like to thank you for attending this blessed event today！Ihave the double honor of acting as both Officiate and Best Man tonight，and am thrilled that Iam with these two wonderful people as they begin this new chapter in their lives.
This is an especially eventful day because it offers Angie and Matthew each a second chance at happiness.What a wonderful day of hope and joy，peace and contentment.
Angie and Matthew have each walked many miles to be here together today，and this wedding is a joy to behold.Ican speak for everyone in this room，when Isay we all wish you the happiness that you deserve.We are so glad that you have found one another，and this day is a reminder that the best is yet to come.
Each of you has worked hard to get here today，and when life handed you difficulties，it did not make you bitter，it made you better.Your marriage to each other is a true triumph of hope over experience.It's been said that if marriage is to be a success，one should begin by marrying the right person.It's obvious that each of you is indeed marrying the right person today.
Angie and Matthew met as student and teacher when Angie was taking architecture classes.These two wonderful people，who know how to build homes，and bridges，and all sorts of other things，are blessed to know that any thing that is going to last a long time starts with a good foundation.Keeping these rules in mind，it is already clear that the foundation Ken and Angie have created for their life together is sturdy，and will withstand all the storms and sunny days ahead.
I don't think I've ever seen a couple who complement each other as much as these two do.Matthew is an intelligent，soft-spoken，organized and witty man.He is very well respected in his field of architecture，and he's just a generally all-round nice guy，too！
Angie is a dear，dear friend who has been on a spiritual journey to better herself and I would say she has had a remarkable quest.In her business，Angie focuses her architecture with a“healing”aspect（colors，material，placement of windows，doors，etc.）.I have always been amazed at her ability to pull things together and transform the dull and ordinary into something extraordinary.
I enjoy watching Angie and Matthew challenge each other to continuously be better.They are very supportive of each other，and while they compete in the same field，they are never competitors.They are two people with a wonderful amount of synergy and they are a joy to know.Their family is rounded out by Cookie，their chocolate lab，and the three of them seem very content to be together！
They say that there is no surprise as magical as finding your life's mate later in life.You two must feel the magic，because it seems as if your happiness emanates from you on this very magical day！
I really feel that I would be remiss if I did not just give you a couple of pieces of advice.Primarily，though，Matthew，these are directed at you.
Never go to bed angry...always stay up and argue.
Always remember the three little words...“You're right，dear”.
Keep the lid down，and the best way to remember your anniversary is to forget it once.
Let's raise our glasses as we toast this couple.
May you both live as long as you want.And never want as long as you live.
Sample 4（5）:Anniversary Toast for Grandparents
What an honor it is to speak at my grandparent's 60th anniversary.It's not often we get an opportunity to celebrate an event like this，so Ithink，first off，congratulations are in order.
60 years！Some day I hope I'll be able to say I even lived that long.But to be married！To actually live with another person for that length of time—it's remarkable.I mean，our parents had us out of the house after 18 years，and，admittedly，all of us kids had probably had enough of them by that time，but 60 years！This should win you a prize of some sort，shouldn't it？
Honestly，now，I know we don't get many opportunities to tell you，but you should realize how much of an inspiration your marriage is to all of us.It gives us all great pleasure celebrating the commitment you have shown one another in your lives，and you should know the influence of your love is not lost on this family.I'm sure part of the reason Mom and Dad have such a wonderful marriage is because，in this case，（mom/dad）grew up in a very loving household.Naturally，that spirit of love and support has been passed along to our generation.
Of course，as grandchildren we always revere what you've said.Some of our fondest memories from childhood revolve around them.What stands above all is the impression that you were always so happy to see us，always interested in what we were doing and thinking.
Later，as we grew up and began seeing you for the adults you are，we began appreciating all that you've done with your lives.［Granddad and Grandma］have very much become a symbol for the joys of leading a long and healthy life.You show us that life doesn't stop at any age，and that it keeps on getting better if you tackle it with the same energy and interest every day.Naturally，if you're lucky enough to have a partner there to share the experience，life will be all the more rich.
Having said that，I'd like to propose a toast to the couple who helps show us the way.Would you all raise your glasses and drink to［NAME&NAME］，still，after all these years，the happy couple！