1971年中美两国出现“兵乓外交”后,基辛格秘密访华。据说,这位国务卿内心紧张,惟恐初次见面周恩来总理就对美国的政策大加斥责,于是急忙学习中华礼仪,还想了一些缓和会谈气氛的方法。见面寒暄时他说了一则谜语,“世界上惟独有中国,全国有十几个,每家有几个,每人有一个”,请问 Kissinger’s secret visit to China came after the “parliamentary diplomacy” between China and the United States in 1971. It is said that the Secretary of State was nervous and afraid to meet for the first time. Premier Chou En-lai lashed out at the U.S. policy and hurriedly studied Chinese etiquette. He also thought of some ways to ease the atmosphere of the talks. When he met to greet him, he said a riddle, “There is only China in the world, there are a dozen in the country, and there are a few in each and one in each.”