Speech at the Supreme State Conference
(Excerpt)
(January 25, 1956)

Source: RMRB (January 26, 1956), 1. Other Chinese Texts: Ziliaoxuanbian, pp.
161–162; Wansui (n.d.), pp. 13–14; Wansui (n.d. 3), pp. 90–91); Mao zhuzuo
xuandu, II, pp. 717–719. Available English Translation: NCNA, Daily Bulletin,
(Jan. 26, 1956), 3–4.

This speech was not presented in RMRB as a complete transcript or direct quotation but in
a verbatim news report entitled “Chairman Mao Talks at the Supreme State Conference,
Discussions on the National Program for Agricultural Development, 1956–1967, submitted
by the CPC Central Committee.” Nevertheless, because of the speech’s importance and the
extensive coverage given to it, we believe it is reasonable to include it in this collection as
being a reliable representation of Mao’s discussion of this problem.

This Supreme State Conference was called to discuss the Draft Program for the
National Development of Agriculture, 1956–1967 (also called the “Forty Points”—
see text Dec. 6, 1955, source note 3), which had been submitted to it by the January
23 meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and which was published
on January 25. Mao’s endorsement of this document at this early date signifies his
identification with it through much of its history of ups and downs as the leadership
struggled over it. Downgraded throughout much of 1956 and early 1957, it was
resurrected in mid- and late 1957 and in 1958 after which it became one of the major
documents associated with the Great Leap Forward.
Mao’s comments here are quite representative of his other statements during this
period.1 For example, on the one hand it includes his clearest statement up to that
time on the role of the relations of production in liberating the forces of production.
On the other hand, it clearly puts forward his position at that time—which he would
reverse as the complexities of socialism became more apparent—that the socialist
revolution would be an easier goal to achieve than the “democratic revolution.”

At present our country is in the midst of a high tide of the great socialist
revolution. The founding of the People’s Republic of China signifies the shift of
the Chinese Revolution from the stage of bourgeois democratic revolution to the
stage of socialist revolution; that is, it has stepped into the period of transition from
capitalism to socialism. The work of the past six years was primarily that of the recovery
of the national economy and of carrying out the various social reforms that had not
been completed during the previous stages of the revolution, primarily land reform.2
Since the summer of last year, socialist transformation—that is, socialist revolution—
has been launched on a most extensive scale and to an extremely profound degree.3 In
approximately another three years, it will be possible for the socialist revolution to be
basically accomplished throughout the country. . . .
. . . The purpose of the socialist revolution is to liberate the forces of production.
The transformation of agriculture and the handicraft industries from the system of
individual ownership to that of socialist collective ownership and the transforma-


tion of privately owned industry and commerce from the system of capitalist
ownership to that of socialist ownership inevitably will greatly liberate the forces
of production.4 Thus, the social conditions for a great development in industrial
and agricultural production will be created. . . .
. . . Our method of carrying out the socialist revolution is a peaceful method. In
the past, many people, both within and outside of the Communist Party, expressed
doubts about such a method. However, since the summer of last year, owing to the
upsurge of the cooperativization movement in the countryside and to the upsurge of
socialist transformation in the urban areas in recent months, their doubts have
generally been allayed.5 Given the conditions prevailing in our country, it is possible,
by using a peaceful method—that is, a method of persuasion and education—not only
to make the transformation from the system of individual ownership to the system of
socialist collective ownership, but also to make the transformation from the system
of capitalist ownership to the system of socialist ownership. In the last few months
the speed of socialist transformation has greatly exceeded people’s expectations. In
the past some people were afraid that the gate of socialism6 would be a difficult one
to pass through; now it appears that even this gate is easy to pass through. . . .
. . . At present, the political situation in our country has undergone a fundamental
change. Many difficult conditions that had existed in the area of agriculture before
last summer have now basically changed; many things that in the past had been
considered infeasible are now feasible. It is possible for our country’s First
Five-Year Plan to be accomplished ahead of schedule or accomplished in excess
of the targets set.7 The tasks of the National Program for Agricultural Development
for 1956 to 19678 are to point out, on the basis of this [current] upsurge in socialist
transformation and socialist construction, the prospects for development in agricultural production and rural work, and to serve as the target in the struggle of the
peasants and agricultural workers throughout the country. The various areas of
work besides agricultural must also catch up rapidly so as to be compatible with the
new situation created by the upsurge in the socialist revolution. . . .
. . . The people of our country ought to have a far-reaching and comprehensive
plan aimed at striving to change, within a few decades, our country’s backward
conditions in [the areas of] the economy and science and culture and to rapidly
attain the most advanced level [of development] in the world. To realize this great
aim, the all-decisive factor is that we must have cadres; we must have scientific
and technical experts who are both sufficient in number and excellent in quality.
At the same time, we must continue to consolidate and expand the united front of
the people’s democracy and to unite with all the forces with which unity is
possible.9 The people of our country must also unite with the people of all countries
in the world and struggle for the safeguarding of world peace.

Notes

1. For example, Mao’s January 20, 1956, speech at the conference on the problem of
intellectuals; see text Jan. 20, 1956, especially under note 5.
2. See text June 6, 1950(1), vol. I, note 8, and text Feb. 18, 1951, vol. I, note 2. See also
text June 23, 1950, vol. I, and text Oct. 23, 1951, vol. I.

JANUARY — MARCH 1956 / 19

3. Mao is referring to the cooperativization of agriculture campaign which was carried
out, with some ups and downs, in the second half of 1955. This campaign consisted mainly
of the extensive setting up of agricultural producers’ cooperatives (APCs), which Mao saw
as the necessary and logical consequence of the Land Reform program. There are many
documents in volume I of this collection on this subject.
4. See text July 9, 1953; text Aug. 12, 1953(1), and text Sept. 7, 1953, all in volume I.
5. See texts Sept. 25, 1955, Oct. 11, 1955, and Dec. 27, 1955(1) and (2).
6. See text June 23, 1950, vol. I, note 8.
7. See text Feb. 10, 1953, vol. I, note 2.
8. See text Dec. 6, 1955, vol. I, source note and note 3.
9. See text Feb. 18, 1951, note 13, and text Nov. 1, 1951, both in volume I.