Telegram on the Tenth Anniversary of the Founding
(September 1, 1955)

Comrade Ho Chi Minh, President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam,
Comrade Ton Duc Thang, Acting Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam,
Comrade Pham Van Dong, Vice Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam:

On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, we have the honour, 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 Republic of Vietnam, our heartfelt and warm congratulations.

Over the past ten years, under the leadership of the Vietnam Workers’ Party and President Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese people have waged a heroic and arduous struggle against colonialist aggression and for peace, unity, independence and democracy, and have won major victories. These victories have not only inspired all peoples struggling for national independence and freedom, but have also made a significant contribution to the cause of safeguarding peace in Asia and the world. The Chinese people feel boundless joy and admiration for this.

The 1954 Geneva Conference reached agreements on restoring peace in Indochina and achieving the unification of Vietnam through nationwide elections, yet at present the enemies of peace are again scheming to undermine the implementation of the Geneva agreements. This is something that all people of justice absolutely cannot permit. The Chinese people extend their utmost sympathy and support to the Vietnamese people in their unremitting efforts to strive for the thorough implementation of the Geneva agreements and the convening of consultative conferences between the two sides, North and South, in preparation for nationwide free elections.

May the Vietnamese people win still greater victories in their struggle for peace, independence, unity and democracy!

May you achieve further successes in the cause of consolidating the democratic regime, healing the wounds of war, and restoring and developing the national economy!

Mao Zedong
President 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, September 1, 1955