August 12, 1955
Comrade Kim Tu-bong, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,
Comrade Kim Il-sung, Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,
Comrade Nam Il, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea:

On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the liberation of the Korean people, we wish, on behalf of the Government and people of the People’s Republic of China, to extend to you, and through you to the Government and people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, our heartfelt and warm congratulations.

In the ten years since the great Soviet army defeated the Japanese militarists, the Korean people, under the leadership of the Korean Workers’ Party and the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, have waged an unremitting struggle to win peace, unity and independence for their fatherland. Following the Korean armistice in 1953, the Korean people further undertook the arduous work of restoring and developing the national economy and have achieved tremendous successes. These successes of the Korean people have greatly inspired and supported the Chinese people in their building of socialism.

Since the Korean armistice, the Korean People’s Army and the Chinese People’s Volunteers have strictly observed the Korean Armistice Agreement, and the Governments of China and Korea have consistently sought a peaceful settlement of the Korean question in a spirit of consultation. The enemies of peace, however, have resorted to every conceivable scheme to undermine the Armistice Agreement, so that the Korean armistice remains in an unstable state to this day. Yet the Korean Armistice Agreement absolutely must not be undermined, and a peaceful settlement of the Korean question must be realized.

We wish the Korean people still greater victories in their struggle for the peace, unity and independence of their fatherland. In this struggle the Korean people will forever enjoy the profound sympathy and full support of the Chinese people and the Chinese Government.

We wish you still greater successes in the cause of strengthening the democratic base and restoring and developing the national economy!

Mao Zedong
Chairman of the People’s Republic of China
Liu Shaoqi
Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China
Zhou Enlai
Premier of the State Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China

Beijing, August 12, 1955