BOSTON, MA.- An official menu from the state banquet held in Beijing on October 19, 1956, commemorating the first state visit of Prime Minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy of Pakistan to China, has been auctioned for $275,000, according to Boston-based RR Auction.

The menu, signed in fountain pen by six influential Chinese statesmen, including Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai, bears witness to a pivotal moment in Sino-Pakistani relations. Prime Minister Suhrawardy, who assumed office merely a month before the historic banquet, sought to foster pragmatic ties with Communist China during a period of shifting global dynamics.

Among the illustrious signatories on the menu were Huang Yanpei, Vice Premier of the State Council and Minister of Industry; Peng Zhen, Mayor of Beijing and later Chairman of the National People's Congress; Chen Yun, a leading economic politician and Party Vice Chairman; and Zhu De, Vice Chairman of the Communist Party and the PRC, renowned as Mao's military advisor.

The culinary offerings listed on the menu reflected the cultural diversity and gastronomic richness of both nations, featuring delicacies such as "Consommé of Swallow Nest and White Agaric," "Shark's Fin in Brown Sauce," and the iconic "Roast Peking Duck."

During the discussions between the delegations, matters of mutual interest were explored, including the exchange of goods, industrial development, improvements in water management, and the training of engineers. Premier Zhou Enlai reassured Prime Minister Suhrawardy about Chinese intentions, emphasizing a commitment to peaceful co-existence and mutual respect, drawing on China's own history of suffering under Western colonialism.

Zhou addressed concerns about Chinese hegemony, affirming that China's pursuit of industrial development was grounded in peaceful coexistence with all nations. This artifact serves as a remarkable link to the foundation of the enduring friendship between China and Pakistan.

"To hold a menu signed by Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai is to hold a piece of the past – a piece that tells a story of diplomatic engagement, cultural exchange, and the forging of friendships that have endured through the decades," said Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction.

In addition to the historic menu, other highlights from the sale include:

•Fully Operational World War II-era Enigma Cipher Machine sold for $206,253.

•Steve Jobs signed check to RadioShack sold for $46,063.

•Thomas Edison signed document for the Light Bulb Patent sold for $22,154.

•Joseph Stalin signed letter to his children —published in his daughter's autobiography sold for $22,134.

•Benjamin Franklin signed endorsement as President of Pennsylvania sold for $21,889.

The Fine Autograph and Artifacts auction by RR Auction began on November 17 and concluded on December 6.