Telegram of Congratulations from Mao Zedong et al. on the National Day of the Czechoslovak Republic (May 8, 1958)

To Comrade Antonín Novotný, President of the Czechoslovak Republic;

To Comrade Zdeněk Fierlinger, Chairman of the National Assembly of the Czechoslovak Republic;

To Comrade Viliam Široki, Prime Minister of the Czechoslovak Republic:

On the occasion of the thirteenth anniversary of the National Day of the Czechoslovak Republic, on behalf of the Government and the people of the People’s Republic of China, we hereby extend to you, and through you to the Government and the people of Czechoslovakia, our most heartfelt and warmest congratulations.

The Chinese people are deeply gratified to note that, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, the fraternal people of Czechoslovakia have achieved tremendous successes in the cause of socialist construction, particularly in the implementation of the Second Five-Year Plan, while at the same time making significant contributions to the consolidation of unity within the socialist family headed by the Soviet Union and to the maintenance of peace in Europe and throughout the world.

Over the past year, the relations of friendship and mutual assistance between our two countries in the political, economic, and cultural spheres have further developed, and the profound friendship between our two peoples has been further strengthened and deepened.

We wish the Czechoslovak Republic ever greater prosperity and strength. May the unbreakable fraternal friendship between the peoples of China and Czechoslovakia continue to be consolidated and to flourish.

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 of the People’s Republic of China;

May 8, 1958.  Printed according to the edition in the People’s Daily of May 9, 1958.