Telegram on the Tenth Anniversary of the Founding
(October 5, 1959)

Comrade Wilhelm Pieck, President of the German Democratic Republic,
Comrade Johannes Dieckmann, President of the Presidium of the People's Chamber of the German Democratic Republic,
Comrade Otto Grotewohl, Chairman of the Council of Ministers 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 tenth anniversary of the founding of the German Democratic Republic, we extend, on behalf of the Communist Party of China, the Government of the People's Republic of China, and the Chinese people, the most sincere and warmest congratulations to the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, the Government of the German Democratic Republic, and the German people.

The founding of the German Democratic Republic was a great victory for the peace and democratic forces of Germany and an event of major historical significance in the contemporary era. The decade since the founding of the German Democratic Republic has been the greatest revolutionary decade in German history. Over these ten years, the industrious people of the German Democratic Republic, under the leadership of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany and the Government of the German Democratic Republic, have achieved brilliant successes in socialist construction and socialist transformation. The Seven-Year Plan for the development of the national economy of the German Democratic Republic for 1959 to 1965, put forward not long ago, is a manifestation of the collective wisdom of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, the Government of the German Democratic Republic, and the people, and it represents the lofty hopes and bright future of the entire German people. There is no doubt that the fulfillment of the Seven-Year Plan will inevitably further strengthen the forces of the socialist camp headed by the Soviet Union.

The German Democratic Republic steadfastly pursues a foreign policy of peace, actively supports the struggles of the peoples of Asia, Africa, and Latin America to safeguard and win national independence and democratic freedom, resolutely opposes the aggressive and war policies of U.S. imperialism and West German militarism, and has made tremendous efforts to strive for the conclusion of a peace treaty with Germany and the reunification of Germany through the establishment of a confederation. All this has won warm praise and universal welcome from all peace-loving countries and peoples throughout the world. The Chinese people fully support the just struggle of the people of the German Democratic Republic and are deeply convinced that the sacred cause of the German people to unify their own fatherland will ultimately achieve final victory.

The People's Republic of China and the German Democratic Republic are fraternal countries born in the same year and the same month. Over the past decade, the fraternal friendship and cooperation between our two peoples have achieved all-round development and consolidation in the struggle to build socialism and oppose imperialism. The friendly cooperation between our two peoples plays a tremendous role in consolidating the unity of the socialist camp headed by the Soviet Union and in safeguarding the lofty cause of world peace.

May the fraternal people of the German Democratic Republic achieve even greater successes in the cause of building socialism, striving for the peaceful reunification of Germany, and defending world peace! May the unbreakable fraternal friendship between the Chinese and German peoples be further consolidated and strengthened.

Mao Zedong
Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China

Liu Shaoqi
Chairman of the People's Republic of China

Zhu De
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

October 5, 1959