September 7, 1949 Comrades, today I am here to welcome you. The kind of conference you have convened is an excellent one—an assembly both required by the revolution and eagerly anticipated by the people of the whole country. For you are precisely the kind of people the people need: you are the people’s writers, the people’s artists, or the organizers of the people’s literary and artistic work. You render service to the revolution and to the people. Since the people need you, we have every reason to extend a warm welcome. Let me say it again: we welcome you.