Both revolution and construction must rely on ourselves.
(September 3, 1963)
Our most difficult period lasted only two and a half years—1960, 1961, and the first half of 1962. By the second half of 1962, the situation had begun to improve. Last year, grain production increased by more than ten million tons compared with the year before last. This year’s performance has been even better. Although there were severe floods in North China this year, particularly in Hebei and Henan, nationwide grain output is likely to rise by around ten million tons over last year. At present, we are concentrating our efforts on cotton, oilseeds, tobacco, and sugar crops. We have already found our own path. We have two kinds of experience: successful experiences and mistakes. The former have encouraged us, while the latter have taught us valuable lessons. The Soviet Union withdrew its experts and tore up contracts, which ultimately turned out to be beneficial for us. With no other choice, we had to depend on ourselves, on our own two hands. Later, the Soviets came to regret their decision and tried to send experts back, seeking to resume business dealings with us, but we refused. If they were to send experts again, one day they would surely withdraw them once more and tear up the agreements. They had already lost our trust. It was precisely at this time in 1960 that the Soviet Union recalled its experts; now three years have passed, and during this period our industrial development has accumulated a wealth of independent experience. When the teacher is gone, the student must learn on his own. Having a teacher has both advantages and disadvantages. It is better to study by oneself, write by oneself, and think through problems independently. That is a fundamental truth. In the past, we used to have teachers guiding us as we learned to write. From the founding of the Party in 1921 until 1934, we suffered greatly because we relied too much on external guidance: the Party program was drafted by foreign advisers, and resolutions of the Central Committee were also prepared by them. [l]
This is part of a conversation between Mao Zedong and a delegation from the Indonesian Communist Party led by Dipa Nusantara Aidit.

Both revolution and construction must rely on ourselves
In particular, 1934 brought us enormous losses. After that, we realized the importance of thinking for ourselves. It took us decades to truly understand China. How could it be acceptable that Chinese people did not understand their own country? Genuine independence and self-reliance began to take root at the Zunyi Conference, where dogmatism was criticized. Dogmatists maintained that everything in the Soviet Union was correct and failed to combine Soviet experience with the actual conditions in China. The principle of integrating the universal truths of Marxism-Leninism with the concrete realities of China was first put forward during the Yan’an Rectification Movement. This principle was later enshrined in the Moscow Declaration of 1957, which stated that the universal principles of Marxism-Leninism should be combined with the specific practices of each country. Foreign experience, regardless of its origin, can serve only as a reference.
On September 3, 1963, Indonesian Communist Party Chairman Aidit presented Mao Zedong with a specimen of a “Bird of Paradise” as a gift.

On September 3, 1963, Mao Zedong met with Indonesian Communist Party Chairman Aidit.
In September 1963, Mao Zedong also met with a delegation of Indonesian women.
Archival photo
Mao Zedong in Beijing, 1963.