Telegram on the Eleventh Anniversary of Liberation
(November 26, 1955)

Comrade Haxhi Lleshi, Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Republic of Albania:

Comrade Mehmet Shehu, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the People’s Republic of Albania:

Comrade Behar Shtralla, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of Albania:

On the occasion of the eleventh anniversary of the liberation of the Albanian people, on behalf of the Chinese people and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, we hereby extend to you, and through you to the heroic Albanian people and government, our warm and heartfelt congratulations.

Over the past eleven years, guided by the Communist Party of Labour of Albania, the Albanian people, with their glorious revolutionary traditions, have achieved brilliant successes in consolidating the people’s democratic regime, safeguarding the independence of their motherland, and creating a prosperous and happy new life. The Chinese people rejoice at these achievements of our fraternal Albanian comrades and wish that the brotherly friendship and solidarity between the peoples of China and Albania will be further strengthened and developed in our common cause of building socialism and upholding world peace.

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, November 26, 1955

Photo Caption: In 1955, Mao Zedong met with Behar Shtralla, head of the visiting Albanian government delegation.