Telegram of Congratulations from Mao Zedong et al. on the Nineteenth Anniversary of the Founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (September 1, 1964) Comrade Ho Chi Minh, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Workers’ Party and President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam; Comrade Truong Chinh, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam; Comrade Pham Van Dong, Prime Minister of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam: On the occasion of the nineteenth anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, on behalf of the Chinese people, the Communist Party of China, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, we extend our warmest congratulations to the fraternal Vietnamese people, the Vietnamese Workers’ Party, and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Over the past year, under the correct leadership of the Vietnamese Workers’ Party and Chairman Ho Chi Minh, the industrious and courageous Vietnamese people have achieved tremendous successes in the cause of socialist transformation and socialist construction.
Today, the fraternal Vietnamese people, imbued with a spirit of self-reliance and revolutionary determination, are striving, illuminated by the resolutions of the Third Congress of the Vietnamese Workers’ Party, to victoriously complete the grand First Five-Year Plan.
The Chinese people rejoice at every achievement made by our Vietnamese brothers and sisters and wish them new and even greater successes.

The Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam has consistently pursued a policy of peace in its foreign relations, firmly opposing the aggressive and war-mongering policies of U.S. imperialism, actively supporting the revolutionary struggles of oppressed nations and peoples, and making important contributions to the maintenance of peace in Southeast Asia and throughout the world.
The Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam has consistently and strictly adhered to the Geneva Agreements of 1954, waging an unrelenting struggle for the peaceful reunification of the motherland.
Recently, the armed aggression launched by U.S. imperialism against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam constituted a long-premeditated provocative act aimed at escalating the Indochina War.
However, the Vietnamese people, time and again tested in their struggle against imperialism and colonialism, cannot be intimidated.
The heroic Vietnamese people have responded with resolute action, delivering a powerful blow to the U.S. aggressors and achieving significant victories.
U.S. imperialism must be held accountable for its grave crimes of aggression against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
This debt of blood it owes to the Vietnamese people will surely be repaid.
Now that U.S. imperialism has taken steps to expand the Indochina War, it can neither expect the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to renounce its right to resist aggression, nor can it expect all peace-loving nations and peoples to abandon their right to support the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in its just struggle against aggression.
Justice is entirely on the side of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
The Chinese people are firmly convinced that, with the support of all peace-loving peoples around the world, the fraternal Vietnamese people will certainly crush the war provocations and all insidious plots of the U.S. aggressors.
The armed self-defense struggle being waged by the people of South Vietnam against the bloody rule of U.S. imperialism and its lackeys will undoubtedly achieve final victory.
The national aspiration of the Vietnamese people for the peaceful reunification of their country will surely be realized.
China and Vietnam are close neighbors, bound by mutual dependence and sharing both joys and sorrows.
The Chinese people highly value the ever-strengthening and developing great solidarity and combat friendship between our two countries.
The Chinese people will forever stand in solidarity with the Vietnamese people, upholding the banners of Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism, resolutely opposing imperialism and modern revisionism, and jointly striving for new victories in the cause of world peace, national liberation, people’s democracy, and socialism.
May the combat friendship between the peoples of China and Vietnam endure forever.
Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Mao Zedong President of the People’s Republic of China Liu Shaoqi Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China Zhu De Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Zhou Enlai September 1, 1964 Printed according to the edition of the People’s Daily dated September 2, 1964.