On Agreeing to Establish Diplomatic Relations with the Government of Vietnam
Telegram to Liu Shaoqi
(17–18 January 1950)

Comrade Shaoqi:
(1) Regarding the request of the Government of Vietnam to establish diplomatic relations, we should immediately reply with agreement. A draft reply has been prepared. Please broadcast and publish it tomorrow (the 18th), and at the same time transmit it to Ho Chi Minh via internal radio. (2) Please forward the statement of the Government of Vietnam requesting the establishment of diplomatic relations with various countries through our Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Soviet Union and all the new democratic countries.

Mao Zedong
17 January, 10 p.m.

His Excellency Huang Minh Giam, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam:
I have the honour to receive Your Excellency’s telegram of 15 January 1950 requesting the establishment of diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. I now inform Your Excellency that the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China considers the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to be the legitimate government representing the will of the Vietnamese people. The Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China is willing to establish diplomatic relations and exchange ambassadors with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, so as to consolidate the relations between the two countries and strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two countries. I hereby reply by telegram and hope that you will take note.

Zhou Enlai
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China
18 January 1950

Urgent, for immediate delivery. Comrade Shaoqi:
The reply to Vietnam sent to you this morning needs a few additional sentences. If it has not yet been published, please insert them immediately and then publish. If it has already been published, then let the matter rest.

Mao Zedong
18 January, 3:30 p.m.

The additional text is as follows: In the first sentence of the reply, after “I have the honour to receive,” add the twenty-five characters “the statement of 14 January 1950 by His Excellency Ho Chi Minh, Chairman of your Government, and,” followed by “Your Excellency the Minister.” In the last sentence of the reply, delete the two characters “为幸” from “即希察照为幸,” and add the twenty-five characters “and wish your country prosperity, your people peace and happiness, and good health to Chairman Ho Chi Minh and Your Excellency the Minister,” followed by “People’s Republic of China.”

[1] The reply to the Government of Vietnam drafted by Mao Zedong and published in Renmin Ribao on 19 January 1950 was printed according to the draft reply text he sent in his telegram to Liu Shaoqi on 17 January.