Tirana
Telegram on the Twentieth Anniversary of Liberation [1]
(November 28, 1964)

Comrade Enver Hoxha, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Albanian Labor Party;
Comrade Haxhi Lleshi, Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Republic of Albania;
Comrade Mehmet Shehu, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the People’s Republic of Albania:

On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of Albania’s liberation, 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 Albanian people, the Albanian Labor Party, and the Government of the People’s Republic of Albania.

Twenty years ago, under the leadership of the glorious Albanian Communist Party, the brotherly Albanian people waged a long and arduous struggle, defeated the Nazi-fascist aggressors, achieved the complete liberation of their homeland, and established a people’s republic, thus opening a brilliant new chapter in the history of the Albanian nation.

Over the past twenty years, the courageous and indomitable Albanian people have stood united as steel around the Albanian Labor Party headed by Comrade Enver Hoxha, forging ahead through thorny paths with unyielding resolve. They have endured severe trials, surmounted numerous difficulties, and attained splendid achievements in the cause of socialist revolution and socialist construction. The Chinese people warmly congratulate the fraternal Albanian people on their great victories and wish them continued success in their struggle to realize the ambitious Third Five-Year Plan, achieving new and even greater triumphs on all fronts of socialist construction.

The People’s Republic of Albania has consistently pursued a policy of peaceful diplomacy, striving to safeguard and strengthen the friendship and solidarity among the peoples of the socialist camp. It has resolutely opposed the aggressive and war-mongering policies of imperialism and has actively supported the revolutionary struggles of all oppressed peoples and nations worldwide. As such, the People’s Republic of Albania has become an important force in the fight against imperialism, in the defense of world peace, and in the promotion of human progress.

The glorious Albanian Labor Party holds high the red banner of Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism, firmly upholding the revolutionary principles set forth in the 1957 Declaration and the 1960 Statement. It has steadfastly carried forward the struggle against imperialism and reactionary forces in various countries, as well as the struggle against modern revisionism, thereby making significant contributions to the preservation of the purity of Marxism-Leninism, to the maintenance of unity within the socialist camp and the international communist movement, and to the advancement of the great cause of the proletarian world revolution.

We are pleased to note that the great friendship between the Communist Parties of China and Albania, between our two countries, and between our two peoples—founded on the principles of Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism—is constantly being strengthened and developed. Friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between our two countries in the political, economic, cultural, and other spheres is steadily expanding. This not only serves the common interests of our two peoples but also contributes to the consolidation and enhancement of the strength of the socialist camp. We are convinced that the fraternal friendship between the Chinese and Albanian peoples, in their joint struggle for world peace, national liberation, people’s democracy, and socialism,

will surely be further consolidated and developed.

Long live the unbreakable, eternal friendship between the peoples of China and Albania!
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
November 28, 1964