Telegram on the Eighth Anniversary of the Founding of the German Democratic Republic
(October 6, 1957)

Comrade Wilhelm Pieck, President of the German Democratic Republic;
Comrade Johannes Dieckmann, Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Chamber of the German Democratic Republic;
Comrade Otto Grotewohl, Prime Minister of the German Democratic Republic;
Comrade Walter Ulbricht, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany:

On the occasion of the eighth anniversary of the founding of the German Democratic Republic, we wish to extend our heartfelt and warm congratulations to you and to all the German people.

The Chinese people have always taken a deep interest in the arduous struggle waged by the German people under the leadership of the Government of the German Democratic Republic and the Socialist Unity Party of Germany—to establish a unified, peaceful, and democratic Germany; to carry forward various socialist construction tasks within the country; to strengthen the unity of the socialist camp; and to safeguard peace in Europe and throughout the world. We have also rejoiced at every achievement made by the German people.

The friendly cooperative relations between the People’s Republic of China and the German Democratic Republic have witnessed new developments year after year. We are confident that the further development of our bilateral friendly cooperation will not only benefit the peoples of China and Germany, but will also make a powerful contribution to consolidating the great unity of the socialist camp led by the Soviet Union and to the cause of maintaining world peace.

Long live the unbreakable friendship between the peoples of China and Germany!

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
October 6, 1957