Message to the 21st Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union

(January 23, 1959)

To the 21st Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union

Dear Comrade Delegates,

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, on behalf of the entire Chinese people and all members of the Communist Party of China, extends warm fraternal congratulations to the 21st Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and expresses sincere and heartfelt respect to the great Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Soviet people.

Since the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the Soviet people, under the correct leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union headed by Comrade Khrushchev, have achieved a series of tremendous successes in communist construction and have made many significant contributions to the common struggle of uniting peace-loving countries and peoples around the world to safeguard peace and prevent war. Recently, the successful launch of a cosmic rocket by the Soviet Union has once again demonstrated that Soviet science and technology have reached a brilliant and lofty peak.

Now, in accordance with the great program for building communism, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union has put forward the plan for developing the national economy for the years 1959–1965. The realization of this plan will establish a solid foundation in both material and spiritual conditions for the Soviet Union’s transition to communism, and will enrich the treasure house of Marxism-Leninism with valuable experience in building communism. The realization of this plan will also further alter the balance of world forces, making it even more favorable to the lofty cause of striving for world peace and human progress. The great Seven-Year Plan further proves the incomparable superiority of socialism over capitalism and demonstrates that socialism will inevitably surpass capitalism in peaceful competition.

The Soviet people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, have always been a shining example for the proletariat of all countries and for all progressive humanity. We are confident that, inspired by the 21st Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the proletariat of all countries and all progressive humanity will struggle with even greater confidence and a hundredfold determination for the great cause of world peace and human progress.

Since the 1957 Moscow Meeting of representatives of the Communist and Workers’ Parties of various countries, the unity of the socialist camp headed by the Soviet Union and the unity of the international communist movement centered on the Communist Party of the Soviet Union have made significant advances, whether in defending and developing Marxism-Leninism, in mutual support and mutual encouragement in all struggles, or in mutual learning and the exchange of experience. The socialist countries and the Communist Parties of the world have all achieved many new successes in their work and struggles. Although the imperialists and modern revisionists are still playing with schemes to undermine the unity of proletarian internationalism, such schemes will, as in the past, meet with shameful defeat.

At present, imperialism is suffering severe blows from economic crises and social conflicts; its colonial system is further disintegrating, and its internal forces are gradually moving toward fragmentation. Socialism, together with the national independence movements supported by socialism and the struggle to defend world peace, has merged into an irresistible tide. The deathbed struggles of the imperialists and all reactionaries can in no way save them from their final doom.

The Chinese people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, are going all out, aiming high, and building socialism with greater, faster, better, and more economical results. Over the past year, China’s economic and cultural construction has achieved unprecedented victories. Through these victories, the Chinese people have gained even stronger confidence in accelerating the development of socialist construction. In the struggle to build and defend their country, the Chinese people have consistently received fraternal assistance and support from the Soviet Union. In the name of the Chinese people, we express heartfelt gratitude to the Soviet people, the Soviet government, and the Communist Party of the Soviet Union!

May the 21st Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union be a success! May the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, leading the Soviet people, achieve new and great victories in the struggle for communist construction and the defense of world peace!

Mao Zedong
Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
January 23, 1959