Telegram on the Sixteenth Anniversary of the Founding
(September 1, 1961)

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

The industrious and valiant Vietnamese people, under the correct leadership of the Vietnam Workers' Party and President Ho Chi Minh, have achieved tremendous successes in socialist transformation and socialist construction. At present, the Vietnamese people are engaged in selfless labour and are striving with full confidence for the fulfilment of the First Five-Year Plan for developing the national economy. The Chinese people are elated and inspired by every victory of their fraternal Vietnamese people.

The Democratic Republic of Vietnam unswervingly pursues a foreign policy of peace, resolutely opposes the aggressive and war policies of U.S. imperialism, actively supports the liberation movements of oppressed nations, and has made significant contributions to safeguarding peace in Asia and the world. The Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Vietnamese people have consistently abided by the provisions of the 1954 Geneva Agreements and have made unremitting efforts to achieve the peaceful reunification of the fatherland and to safeguard peace in Indochina. However, due to obstruction by U.S. imperialism, the provisions of the Geneva Agreements have not been fully implemented, and the Vietnamese people's aspiration for the peaceful reunification of the fatherland has yet to be realized. We fully sympathize with and firmly support the Vietnamese people's patriotic and just struggle against U.S. imperialist aggression, against the terrorist rule of the traitorous clique in South Vietnam, and for the peaceful reunification of the fatherland, and we are deeply convinced that this struggle will surely win final victory.

There exists a long-standing traditional friendship between the peoples of China and Vietnam. The common ideology of Marxism-Leninism and the common goal of building socialism have forged an eternal, unbreakable unity between our two fraternal neighbouring countries. Over the past few years, the political, economic, and cultural relations between China and Vietnam have continuously developed and expanded. The recent friendly visit to our country by the Government Delegation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam headed by Premier Pham Van Dong has further strengthened the relations of friendship, mutual assistance, and cooperation between China and Vietnam, and further deepened the close fraternal friendship between our two peoples. This not only conforms to the fundamental interests of our two countries but is also beneficial to the unity of the socialist camp and the cause of world peace.

We wish the fraternal Vietnamese people still greater achievements in the cause of carrying out socialist construction and striving for the peaceful reunification of the fatherland. May the unbreakable fraternal friendship between the peoples of China and Vietnam flow everlastingly like the Changjiang and the Red River!

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

September 1, 1961