New Year Greetings from Mao Zedong et al. to the Soviet Leaders (December 31, 1961)

Comrade Nikita S. 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 I. Brezhnev, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR:

As the New Year dawns, 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 USSR, our warm fraternal congratulations.

Over the past year, under the leadership of the glorious Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the great Soviet people have achieved tremendous successes in the struggle to build communism and safeguard world peace. The Chinese people are deeply inspired by these achievements and congratulate the brotherly Soviet people on attaining new and greater victories in the noble cause of building communism and defending world peace in the new year.

The unity of the two great powers, China and the Soviet Union, and the solidarity of all countries in the socialist camp, constitute the fundamental guarantee for the victorious construction of socialism and communism, for the preservation of world peace, and for the advancement of humanity. Further consolidating and strengthening this unity is of particular importance at present.

The time-tested fraternal friendship and unity between our two peoples are founded upon the principles of Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism, and they are indestructible by any force. The Chinese people will continue to spare no effort in strengthening the unbreakable friendship and solidarity between the Chinese and Soviet peoples, and in reinforcing the great unity of the socialist camp.

May the fraternal friendship between the Chinese and Soviet peoples endure forever! We wish you good health and extend New Year greetings to all the Soviet people.

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 31, 1961  Printed from the January 1, 1962 issue of the People’s Daily. 6£²