Tirana

First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party of Labour of Albania

Dear Comrade Enver Hoxha:

On the occasion of your fifty-fifth birthday, on behalf of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people, and in my own name, I extend to you—founder and leader of the Party of Labour of Albania, beloved leader of the Albanian people, and close friend of the Chinese people—our heartfelt, fraternal congratulations.

You have devoted all your energy to the Albanian people’s struggle for liberation from fascism, as well as to the cause of socialist revolution and socialist construction. Under your leadership, the time-tested Party of Labour of Albania has rightly guided the heroic Albanian people, holding high the banner against imperialism, and has made outstanding contributions to the fight against modern revisionism and modern dogmatism, to the defense of Marxism, and to the preservation of unity within the international communist movement. The Communist Party of China and the Chinese people express their profound respect for you and for the Party of Labour of Albania under your leadership, as well as for the Albanian people.

We wish the Albanian people ever greater and more brilliant achievements in their socialist construction. May the fraternal friendship between our two Parties and our two peoples endure forever. And to you, dear Comrade Hoxha, we wish good health and long life!

Mao Zedong
Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
October 15, 1963