(December 30, 1960)
Moscow

Comrade Nikita Khrushchev, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR,

Comrade Leonid Brezhnev, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR:

As we stand on the threshold of the New Year 1961, on behalf of the Chinese people, the Communist Party of China, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, we extend to you—and through you to the great Soviet people, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and the Government of the Soviet Union—our warmest and most heartfelt New Year greetings.

The past year has been one in which the forces of peace and progress throughout the world, with the socialist camp at their core, have grown stronger, while the war-mongering forces of imperialism have been further weakened. The recently concluded Conference of Parties of Communist and Workers’ Parties has greatly strengthened the unity of the socialist camp and the international communist movement, inspiring peoples everywhere in their struggle for peace, national independence, democracy, and socialism. We are firmly convinced that in the new year the peoples of all countries will surely achieve new and even greater victories.

During the past year, under the leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union headed by Comrade Khrushchev, the great Soviet people have made tremendous achievements in the grand undertaking of building communism. As a powerful bastion of peace in the world, the Soviet Union has made significant contributions to safeguarding world peace, opposing imperialist aggression, supporting the liberation struggles of oppressed nations, and reinforcing the strength of the socialist camp. Each achievement and victory of the Soviet people has greatly encouraged the Chinese people in their high-spirited efforts to build socialism. Over the past year, the friendly solidarity between the peoples of China and the Soviet Union has been further consolidated and developed. Not long ago, a Chinese party and government delegation led by Chairman Liu Shaoqi paid a state visit to the Soviet Union, thereby further consolidating and developing the time-honored great friendship and solidarity between the two peoples, founded on Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism.

As we enter the New Year, we sincerely wish the great Soviet people ever more brilliant successes in their noble cause of continuing to build communism and defend world peace! May the unbreakable fraternal friendship between the peoples of China and the Soviet Union endure forever! Dear comrades, we wish you and all the Soviet people a happy New Year!

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

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

December 30, 1960

Archival Photo
1960: Mao Zedong in Beijing.