Revisions to Liu Shaoqi’s Speech Draft for the Meeting Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China [1] (June 1961)

I. The second task is to carry out the socialist revolution and socialist construction in China.
This work has been underway for twelve years already, and it must continue.
To carry the socialist revolution through to completion and to build a great socialist country with modern industry, modern agriculture, and a modern science and culture, a very long period of time will still be required [2]. As for achieving the transition from socialism to communism, an even longer historical stage will be needed [3]. Nevertheless, it can already be seen that the socialist social system has been established on Chinese soil, and that China, once poor and backward, has begun to embark on the path of national rejuvenation [4].

II.
In a large country with a population of 650 million, the people’s democratic revolution has achieved complete victory, and the socialist revolution and socialist construction have secured their initial triumphs [ ], which constitute momentous events in the history of the development of Marxism-Leninism.
To a certain extent, they have altered the balance of international forces [ ], and cannot but exert a certain influence on the course of world history [7]; accordingly, they have rightly won the acclaim of working people and peace-loving peoples throughout the world.

Printed according to Mao Zedong’s revised version.
Notes [1] These are revisions made to the speech draft issued on June 23, 1961, as a document of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
The text typeset in Song typeface represents additions and rewordings by Mao Zedong.
On July 1, 1961, when the People’s Daily published the speech publicly, its content was further revised. [2] In the draft distributed on June 23, 1961, the original wording of this sentence was: “A rather long period of time will still be required.” [3] In the draft distributed on June 23, 1961, the original wording of this sentence was: “An even longer period of time will be required.” [4] In the draft distributed on June 23, 1961, the original wording of this sentence was: “However, it can be seen that the socialist social system has taken firm root on Chinese soil, and that China, once poor and backward, has begun to follow the road to prosperity and strength.” [ ] In the draft distributed on June 23, 1961, the original wording of this sentence was: “The socialist revolution and socialist construction have achieved a great victory.” [ ] In the draft distributed on June 23, 1961, the original wording of this sentence was: “It has to a large extent changed the balance of international forces.” [7] In the draft distributed on June 23, 1961, the original wording of this sentence was: “It cannot but exert a great influence on the development of world history.”