(May 18, 1960)
Comrade Ho Chi Minh, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Viet Nam Workers' Party and General Secretary, President of the Viet Nam Democratic Republic, and beloved comrade:

On the happy occasion of your 70th birthday, we, on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party, the Government of the People's Republic of China, and the Chinese people, extend to you—the founder and leader of the Viet Nam Workers' Party, the most beloved leader of the Vietnamese people, an outstanding fighter in the international communist movement, and the closest friend of the Chinese people—our warm, fraternal congratulations.

For decades, with all your energy and rich experience in revolutionary struggle, you have waged a protracted, heroic, and unyielding struggle for the thorough liberation of the Vietnamese working people and for the cause of peace, unification, independence, and democracy in Viet Nam, and have achieved tremendous victories. Your outstanding contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Vietnamese people, to the international communist movement and workers' movement, and to world peace have won you the love and respect not only of the Vietnamese people but also of the people of China and all countries.

We wholeheartedly wish you health and long life. May you achieve still greater and newer successes in leading the Vietnamese people in building socialism, striving for the peaceful reunification of Viet Nam, opposing the war policy and aggressive policy of U.S. imperialism, and safeguarding peace in the Far East and the world.

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

Liu Shaoqi
President 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

May 18, 1960