Telegram of Congratulations from Mao Zedong, et al. on the Appointments of Brezhnev and Kosygin (October 16, 1964)

To Comrade L.I. Brezhnev, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Comrade A.I. Mikoyan, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union, Comrade A.N. Kosygin, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union:

Having learned of Comrade Brezhnev's election as First Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU and Comrade Kosygin's appointment as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, we, on behalf of the Chinese people, the Communist Party of China, and the Chinese government, extend to you our warm congratulations.

We sincerely hope that the fraternal Soviet people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Soviet government, will achieve new successes in future construction work in all fields and in the struggle to safeguard world peace. The Communist Party of China, the Chinese government, and the Chinese people are pleased with every progress made by the great Soviet Union, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and the Soviet people on the road forward.

The recent successful launch and smooth landing of the Soviet "Voskhod" spacecraft is another great achievement of the Soviet working people. We would like to take this opportunity to express to you, and through you, to the great Soviet people, our heartfelt congratulations.

Let the two parties and two countries of China and the Soviet Union unite on the basis of Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism!

May the unbreakable fraternal friendship between the peoples of China and the Soviet Union continue to develop!

May the peoples of China and the Soviet Union continue to achieve victories in the common struggle against imperialism headed by the United States and in defense of world peace!

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 16, 1964, in Beijing

Printed according to the October 17, 1964, *People's Daily*.