Excerpt from "World Digest" (June 16, 2012, Edition 05)
In early March 1969, Ji Pengfei, the Executive Deputy Minister in charge of the daily work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hosted a welcome dinner for the newly appointed Albanian Ambassador to China, Robo. The Albanian Embassy in China's Counsellor Zechi Agoli and other embassy diplomats were invited to the banquet.
During the dinner, toasts were raised frequently. The host, Qiao Guanhua, had been known as a "wine connoisseur" since the 1930s and was rarely seen enjoying drinks so openly. Ambassador Robo, known for his caution, did not drink much. On the other hand, the tall and robust Agoli appeared very lively, seemingly underestimating the drinking capacity of Ji and Qiao, the two "heroes" in the drinking scene. After a few rounds, Agoli was defeated.
After the banquet, a tipsy Agoli got into a small sedan and headed towards the diplomatic apartment. As the car reached the street outside Jianguomen, an innocent Chinese worker fell under Agoli's wheels. Upon learning of this incident, the top leadership of Albania immediately ordered Agoli to be recalled.
Prime Minister Zhou Enlai, upon hearing about the incident, was furious. He harshly criticized Ji, Qiao, and other responsible individuals, and sternly warned the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying, "You officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs not only did not dissuade Agoli from excessive drinking but also encouraged him repeatedly. Agoli is in China, and he is our guest. If something happens, the responsibility lies mainly with us. As diplomats, especially you leaders, drinking must be done in moderation, as excessive drinking can lead to mistakes..."
Zhou Enlai's tone softened as he reiterated the regulations for diplomatic personnel established in the 1960s: in various diplomatic settings, diplomats should not drink more than one-third of their own capacity.
On March 28, Zhou Enlai met with Robo and Agoli to discuss the matter. Prime Minister Zhou said, "I have had lessons from drinking on four occasions: in 1925 at the Whampoa Military Academy when I was working on the united front, Chiang Kai-shek's officers made me drink because I got married and they wanted me to treat them; in 1938 in Wuhan, also working on the (anti-Japanese) united front, senior officers of the Kuomintang—my former students from the Whampoa Military Academy—made me drink; there was another occasion in Chongqing; on the eve of the 1954 Geneva Conference, Khrushchev made me drink in Moscow. Each time, I was deliberately made to drink with ulterior motives, so in 1965, I made up my mind to quit drinking after 30 years. Drinking excessively not only harms the body but can also lead to political mistakes."
Agoli was deeply moved by Zhou Enlai's heartfelt words. In conclusion, Zhou Enlai repeatedly assured Ambassador Robo that the responsibility for this incident lies with the relevant officials in our Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The aftermath of the unfortunate death of the worker in the car accident will be handled by the Chinese side, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is requested not to take any action against Agoli, who is about to be recalled, but the Albanian side firmly refused to revoke the order.
On the evening of May 1 of the same year, upon learning that Agoli and his wife had left Beijing and headed to Shanghai, Zhou Enlai immediately sent Qiao Guanhua and interpreter Fan Chengzuo to Shanghai to accompany the Agoli couple on a week-long tour of Shanghai and Hangzhou. Upon learning of this gesture, the Agoli couple expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Zhou Enlai.
(From "World Digest" 6.12 by Luo Yinsheng)