Telegram from Mao Zedong et al. Congratulating Bulgaria on the Seventeenth Anniversary of the Socialist Revolution (September 8, 1961)

Comrade Todor Zhivkov, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party; Comrade Dimitar Ganev, Chairman of the Presidium of the National Assembly of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria; Comrade Anton Yugov, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria: On the occasion of the seventeenth anniversary of the socialist revolution in Bulgaria, on behalf of the Communist Party of China, the Government of the People’s Republic of China, and the Chinese people, we extend our warmest congratulations to the Bulgarian Communist Party, the Government of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, and the Bulgarian people. Over the past year, under the leadership of the Bulgarian Communist Party and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, the Bulgarian people have achieved new successes in socialist construction; at the same time, they have made vigorous efforts in the struggle against the imperialists’ policies of aggression and war, and in safeguarding peace in the Balkans and throughout the world. The Chinese people are sincerely delighted by the achievements attained by our fraternal Bulgarian comrades. The brotherly friendship between the peoples of China and Bulgaria, founded upon the principles of Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism, is eternal and unbreakable. We are firmly convinced that, guided by the Declaration of the 1960 Meeting of Representatives of Communist and Workers’ Parties of All Countries, this friendship will surely be further consolidated and developed, thereby making an even greater contribution to strengthening the unity of the socialist camp, maintaining world peace, and advancing human progress. May the Bulgarian people achieve still greater successes in their socialist construction! May the fraternal friendship between the peoples of China and Bulgaria endure forever!

Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Mao Zedong President of the People’s Republic of China Liu Shaoqi Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhu De Premier of the State Council Zhou Enlai September 8, 1961 Printed from the People’s Daily, September 9, 1961.