Telegram from Mao Zedong, et al., Congratulating the Fourteenth Anniversary of the Founding of the German Democratic Republic (October 6, 1963)

To Comrade Walter Ulbricht, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany and Chairman of the Council of State of the German Democratic Republic, Comrade Otto Grotewohl, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the German Democratic Republic, Dr. Johannes Dieckmann, Chairman 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 fourteenth anniversary of the founding of the German Democratic Republic, we, on behalf of the Chinese people, the Communist Party of China, and the Government of the People's Republic of China, extend warm congratulations to the people of the German Democratic Republic, the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, and the Government of the German Democratic Republic.

Over the past year, the fraternal people of the German Democratic Republic have achieved new successes in the cause of socialist construction through their diligent labor, for which the Chinese people are pleased.

At present, West German militarism, with the support of US imperialism, is unscrupulously carrying out criminal activities, threatening the security of the German Democratic Republic and threatening the peace of Europe and the world.

The Chinese people reiterate their firm support for the just struggle of the people of the German Democratic Republic against the aggressive and war policies of US imperialism, against West German militarism, and for the conclusion of a peace treaty with Germany and the normalization of the situation in West Berlin on this basis.

The Chinese people deeply cherish the profound friendship with the people of the German Democratic Republic. Maintaining and strengthening the friendly unity between the people of China and the German Democratic Republic not only conforms to the interests of our two peoples, but also benefits the unity of the socialist camp and the common struggle against imperialism.

We hope that the people of China and the German Democratic Republic, on the basis of Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism, and on the basis of the revolutionary principles of the 1957 Declaration and the 1960 Statement, will work together to enhance the unity of our two peoples, to safeguard the unity of the socialist camp, and to oppose imperialism and strive for world peace, national liberation, people's democracy, and socialism.

We wish the people of the German Democratic Republic new achievements in the cause of socialist construction.

We wish the friendship between the people of China and the German Democratic Republic to develop day by day.

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

October 6, 1963

Printed according to the *People's Daily* of October 7, 1963.