Telegram to Bainqen Erdini [1]
(March 6, 1957)

Dear Bainqen Erdini:

I have received the telegram you sent me from Xigaze upon your return from India and the New Year's greetings you sent me on the Tibetan Fire Rooster Year New Year's Day. Thank you for your congratulations.

This time, you and the Dalai Lama [3] went to India to attend the 2500th Anniversary of Sakyamuni [4], and made beneficial contributions to strengthening Sino-Indian friendship. I wish you new achievements in various tasks in the Tibetan region in the new year, and wish you good health.

Mao Zedong
March 6, 1957

[1]
Bainqen Erdini, namely Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, one of the Tibetan religious leaders, then served as Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and First Vice Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the Tibet Autonomous Region.
[2]
Fire Rooster Year, a Tibetan calendar year. The Tibetan calendar adopts the sexagenary cycle, using "Yin, Yang" paired with the five elements of "Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water" to replace the ten Heavenly Stems, and the twelve zodiac animals (Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig) to replace the twelve Earthly Branches, and then matching the ten Heavenly Stems and twelve Earthly Branches, such as Yang Wood Rat Year, Yin Wood Ox Year, etc.
Calculated in this way, 1957 is the Tibetan Yin Fire Rooster Year, also known as the Fire Rooster Year.
[3]
Dalai Lama, namely Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, one of the Tibetan religious leaders, then served as Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the Tibet Autonomous Region.
[4]
Sakyamuni, a member of the Sakya clan of ancient India, the founder of Buddhism.