Telegram of Condolence on the Death of Bierut from Mao Zedong and Others
(March 13, 1956)

Comrade Aleksander Zawadzki, Chairman of the Council of State of the Polish People’s Republic:
Comrade Józef Cyrankiewicz, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Polish People’s Republic:
Comrade Stanisław Skrzeszewski, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Polish People’s Republic:

Shocked to learn of the untimely passing of Comrade Bolesław Bierut, it is with profound grief that we, on behalf of the Chinese people and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, express our deepest condolences to you, and through you to the Polish people and the Government of the Polish People’s Republic.

Comrade Bolesław Bierut was the beloved leader of the Polish people and an outstanding fighter for the cause of world peace, democracy, and socialism. His passing represents an immense loss for the Polish people and for the world peace, democracy, and socialist camp headed by the Soviet Union.

We are firmly convinced that the glorious deeds of Comrade Bolesław Bierut during his lifetime will forever inspire us to work diligently to further strengthen and develop the unbreakable and everlasting friendship between the peoples of China and Poland. The Chinese people will always stand together with the Polish people in the struggle to defend world peace and to consolidate the world peace, democracy, and socialist camp headed by the Soviet Union.

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, March 13, 1956