Hanoi
Telegram on the Nineteenth Anniversary of Founding [1]
(September 1, 1964)
To Comrade Ho Chi Minh, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Workers’ Party and President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam;
To Comrade Truong Chinh, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam;
To 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 Vietnam Workers’ Party, and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Over the past year, under the correct leadership of the Vietnam Workers’ Party and President Ho Chi Minh, the hardworking and courageous Vietnamese people have achieved tremendous successes in socialist transformation and construction. Today, guided by the spirit of self-reliance and revolutionary determination, and illuminated by the resolutions of the Third Congress of the Vietnam Workers’ Party, the fraternal Vietnamese people are striving to successfully complete their 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 victories.

The Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam has consistently pursued a policy of peaceful diplomacy, firmly opposing the aggressive and war-mongering policies of U.S. imperialism, actively supporting the revolutionary struggles of oppressed nations and peoples, and making significant contributions to safeguarding peace in Southeast Asia and the world. It has also steadfastly adhered to the Geneva Accords of 1954, relentlessly fighting for the peaceful reunification of the motherland.

Recently, the armed aggression launched by U.S. imperialism against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam constitutes a long-planned provocative act aimed at escalating the Indochina War. However, the Vietnamese people, time and again tested in their struggle against imperialism and colonialism, remain undaunted. With resolute action, they have delivered a powerful counterblow to the American aggressors, achieving important victories. U.S. imperialism must be held accountable for its grave crimes of aggression against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. This debt of blood owed to the Vietnamese people will surely be repaid. Having taken steps to expand the Indochina War, U.S. imperialism cannot expect the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to relinquish its right to resist aggression, nor can it expect peace-loving nations and peoples worldwide to abandon their support for Vietnam’s just resistance. Justice is entirely on the side of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The Chinese people are confident that, with the support of all peace-loving people around the globe, the fraternal Vietnamese people will undoubtedly thwart the war provocations and all insidious plots of the U.S. aggressors. The armed self-defense struggle waged by the people of South Vietnam against the bloody rule of U.S. imperialism and its lackeys will surely achieve final victory. The national aspiration of the Vietnamese people for the peaceful reunification of their homeland will certainly 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 unity 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!

Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
Liu Shaoqi, President 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
September 1, 1964