Berlin
Telegram on the Thirteenth Anniversary of Its Founding
(October 6, 1962)

Comrade Walter Ulbricht, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany and Chairman of the State Council of the German Democratic Republic,
Comrade Otto Grotewohl, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the German Democratic Republic,
Dr. Johannes Dieckmann, President of the People’s Chamber of the German Democratic Republic,
Professor Dr. Erich Correns, Chairman of the National Council of the National Front of Democratic Germany:

On the occasion of the thirteenth anniversary of the founding of the German Democratic Republic, we extend warm congratulations, on behalf of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, to the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, the Government of the German Democratic Republic, and its people.

Under the leadership of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany and the Government of the German Democratic Republic, the fraternal people of the German Democratic Republic have achieved significant successes in socialist construction and have carried out unremitting efforts to oppose West German militarism fostered by U.S. imperialism and to safeguard world peace. The Chinese people take great pleasure in this.

At present, U.S. imperialism is actively supporting West German militarism and intensifying its aggressive provocations against the German Democratic Republic, gravely threatening peace in Europe and the world. All this has not only met with strong opposition from the German people but has also been sternly condemned by the Chinese people and the people of the whole world. We once again reaffirm: The Chinese people firmly support the solemn stand and reasonable propositions of the German Democratic Republic and the Soviet Union on concluding a German peace treaty and, on that basis, normalizing the situation in West Berlin. We are deeply convinced that the just struggle of the people of the German Democratic Republic against U.S. imperialism and West German militarism and for a peaceful resolution of the German question will certainly achieve final victory.

The peoples of China and Germany have always supported and assisted each other in the struggle against imperialism and in the cause of building socialism. The Chinese people will unswervingly strive, on the basis of the 1957 Moscow Declaration and the 1960 Moscow Statement, to enhance the friendship and unity between the peoples of China and Germany, and will work together with the people of the German Democratic Republic to strengthen the unity of the socialist camp, safeguard world peace, and promote the progressive cause of humanity.

May the German Democratic Republic flourish and prosper, and may the fraternal friendship between the peoples of China and Germany endure forever.

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 and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference

October 6, 1962