Telegram from Mao Zedong and Others Congratulating Albania on Its Independence Day and Liberation Day

(November 27, 1962)

Tirana

Comrade Enver Hoxha, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Albanian Party of Labour,

Comrade Haxhi Lleshi, President of the Presidium of the People's Assembly of the People's Republic of Albania,

Comrade Mehmet Shehu, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the People's Republic of Albania:

On the joyous occasion of the 50th anniversary of Albania's declaration of independence and the 18th anniversary of Albania's liberation, we, on behalf of the Communist Party of China, the Government of the People's Republic of China, and the Chinese people, extend the warmest and most sincere congratulations to the glorious Albanian Party of Labour, the Government of the People's Republic of Albania, and the fraternal Albanian people.

The Albanian people are a people with a glorious revolutionary tradition. Fifty years ago, the Albanian people waged an indomitable struggle against the brutal oppression of foreign rulers and won national independence. Later, in the great liberation struggle against fascism, the Albanian people, under the leadership of the Albanian Party of Labour, carried out a heroic, fearless, and extremely arduous struggle, defeated the fascist aggressors, ultimately achieved the complete liberation of their motherland, and embarked on the path of building socialism.

Over the past eighteen years, under the correct leadership of the long-tested Albanian Party of Labour headed by Comrade Enver Hoxha, the Albanian people have displayed great heroism in the struggle against enemies at home and abroad, demonstrated the revolutionary drive of hard struggle in the cause of socialist construction, overcome numerous difficulties, and achieved brilliant successes. Now, the Albanian people are rallying even more closely around the Albanian Party of Labour and engaging in selfless labour to fulfil the Third Five-Year Plan. We firmly believe that no force in the world can prevent the Albanian people from advancing victoriously towards their set great goals.

The People's Republic of Albania is a staunch member of the great family of the socialist camp. Standing firm at the southwestern outpost of the socialist camp, it has made valuable contributions to safeguarding the security of the socialist camp. The Government of the People's Republic of Albania has consistently pursued a foreign policy of peace, made unremitting efforts to develop friendly, mutual-assistance, and cooperative relations with socialist countries, support the independence movements of oppressed nations and the revolutionary struggles of oppressed peoples, oppose the imperialist policies of aggression and war, and safeguard world peace, thereby winning warm praise and high esteem from the people of the world. The Albanian Party of Labour has unswervingly held high the revolutionary banner of Marxism-Leninism, consistently remained loyal to the revolutionary principles of the 1957 Moscow Declaration and the 1960 Moscow Statement, resolutely safeguarded and strengthened the unity of the socialist camp and the international communist movement, and waged an uncompromising, principled struggle against the modern revisionists represented by the Tito[1] clique of Yugoslavia, playing a major role in defending the purity of Marxism-Leninism. It has been proven through various tests of struggle that the Albanian people are an invincible, heroic people, and that the Albanian Party of Labour is a glorious, militant, and staunch party loyal to Marxism-Leninism, worthy of being a steadfast fighting force in the international communist movement. The Chinese people take pride in having such a staunch and close comrade-in-arms.

The Chinese people and the Albanian people are close brothers in the great socialist family. Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism tightly bind our two peoples together. In the common struggle for the common cause, the peoples of China and Albania have always shared weal and woe, shared a common destiny, supported each other, and cooperated closely. The Chinese people will forever unite with the fraternal Albanian people, hold high the banners of Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism, and strive to safeguard and strengthen the unity of the socialist camp and the international communist movement, and to win new victories for the cause of world peace, national liberation, democracy, and socialism.

May the Albanian people achieve new and even more brilliant successes in the great cause of socialist construction. May the eternal and unbreakable fraternal friendship between the peoples of China and Albania 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

Beijing, November 27, 1962

[1] Tito, then General Secretary of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia and President of the Republic.