Comrade Xiaoping, please have this printed and distributed immediately.

Mao Zedong
December 8

Return to Comrade Xiaoping for distribution to all comrades. All relevant comrades are requested to notify the provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions by telephone this evening. Telephone conferences must be completed within the next two days, or at the latest the day after tomorrow (December 12), to convey this to the people's communes.

Mao Zedong
December 9, 5:30 p.m.

Comrade Xiaoping:
There are a few revisions to the wording. Do not reprint it; simply publish it in the newspaper according to the revised draft. After reading, please hand it over to Shangkun for handling.

Mao Zedong
December 9
(Published based on the manuscript.)

Over the past few years, Comrade Mao Zedong has repeatedly proposed to the Central Committee that he no longer continue to serve as Chairman of the People's Republic of China. After thorough and multifaceted consideration, the plenary session of the Central Committee has decided to agree to Comrade Mao Zedong's proposal and will no longer nominate him as a candidate for Chairman of the People's Republic of China at the first session of the Second National People's Congress. The plenary session of the Central Committee holds that this is an entirely positive suggestion. Because Comrade Mao Zedong will not hold the post of Chairman of the state, but will concentrate on serving as Chairman of the Party Central Committee, this will enable him to focus his energy more effectively on handling issues concerning the Party's and the state's principles, policies, and lines. It will also allow him to free up more time to engage in theoretical work on Marxism-Leninism, without hindering his continued leadership role in state affairs. This will be more beneficial to the entire Party and the people of the whole country. Comrade Mao Zedong is a long-tested leader dearly loved and esteemed by the people of all ethnic groups across the nation. After he no longer holds the post of Chairman of the state, he will remain the leader of the people of all ethnic groups across the nation. In the future, should special circumstances arise requiring him to resume this role, he may still be nominated again for the post of Chairman of the state in accordance with the will of the people and the decision of the Party. Party committees at all levels should, based on these reasons, provide thorough explanations to cadres and the masses both inside and outside the Party at appropriate Party meetings, at meetings of people's congresses at all levels, at gatherings of workers in industrial and mining enterprises, at gatherings in people's communes, and at gatherings in government offices, schools, and military units, so that everyone understands the reasons for this matter and no misunderstandings arise.

(Published based on the People's Daily, December 18, 1958, with Mao Zedong's revisions.)