Telegram on the Fifteenth Anniversary of the Founding
(September 1, 1960)

Comrade Ho Chi Minh, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Workers' Party and President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam,
Comrade Truong Chinh, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam,
Comrade Pham Van Dong, Premier of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam:

On the occasion of the fifteenth anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, we wish to extend, on behalf of the Communist Party of China, the Government of the People's Republic of China, and the Chinese people, the warmest, fraternal congratulations to the Vietnam Workers' Party, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, and all the Vietnamese people.

Under the leadership of the Vietnam Workers' Party headed by President Ho Chi Minh, the heroic Vietnamese people, through protracted and arduous struggle, overthrew imperialist colonial rule in August 1945 and achieved national independence. However, less than a month after the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, it was subjected to armed attack by French imperialism. The Vietnamese people, closely united around the Vietnam Workers' Party and President Ho Chi Minh, waged a nine-year heroic war of resistance, finally repelled the imperialist aggression, and won the liberation of northern Vietnam. The victory of the Vietnamese people has set a brilliant example for the struggle of oppressed nations for liberation.

After liberation, the people of northern Vietnam launched large-scale socialist transformation and socialist construction and have achieved significant successes. At present, the people of northern Vietnam are striving to fulfill and overfulfill the various targets of socialist transformation and socialist construction set forth in the 1958–1960 Three-Year Plan. We are deeply convinced that the industrious and courageous Vietnamese people will certainly be able to accomplish this glorious task with distinction.

The Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Vietnamese people have consistently upheld the Geneva Accords[I] and have made unremitting efforts for the peaceful reunification of their motherland. Although U.S. imperialism has continuously controlled southern Vietnam and done its utmost to obstruct the peaceful reunification of Vietnam, its criminal activities are arousing ever stronger resistance from the Vietnamese people. The aspiration of the Vietnamese people for the peaceful reunification of their motherland cannot be blocked by any force. The just struggle of the Vietnamese people will surely win final victory.

The Democratic Republic of Vietnam has consistently pursued a foreign policy of peace, resolutely safeguarded the unity of the socialist camp, resolutely opposed U.S. imperialist aggression, upheld peace in Indochina and Asia, vigorously supported the national liberation movements of the peoples in colonies and semi-colonies, and actively developed friendly relations with the peace-loving and neutral countries of Asia and Africa. All this has won the praise and support of the peace-loving peoples and countries of the whole world.

China and Vietnam are neighbors as closely related as lips and teeth and are close brothers in the great socialist family. The friendship between our two peoples is founded on the basis of Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism and is unbreakable. The Chinese people celebrate with great elation the fifteenth anniversary of the founding of the glorious Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the brilliant achievements won by the Vietnamese people over these fifteen years. We wholeheartedly wish you, comrades, and through you, the fraternal Vietnamese people, new and still greater achievements in building socialism, opposing U.S. imperialist aggression, striving for the peaceful reunification of the motherland, strengthening the unity of the socialist camp headed by the Soviet Union, and safeguarding world peace.

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

Beijing, September 1, 1960

[I] Refers to the agreements on restoring peace in the countries of Indochina reached at the Geneva Conference from July 20 to 21, 1954, including the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Vietnam, the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Laos, the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Cambodia, and the Final Declaration of the Geneva Conference, etc. The main contents of these agreements are: restoring peace in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia; the withdrawal of French troops from Indochina; respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of these three countries, and non-interference in their internal affairs; the said three countries shall not participate in any military alliance, and no foreign military bases shall be permitted on their territories.