Tirana
Telegram of Congratulations from Mao Zedong et al. on the 21st Anniversary of Albania’s Liberation
(November 28, 1965)

Comrade Enver Hoxha, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Albanian Labour 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 twenty-first 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 festive greetings to the fraternal Albanian people, the Albanian Labour Party, and the Government of the People’s Republic of Albania.

Over the past twenty-one years, the industrious and courageous Albanian people, under the time-tested leadership of the Albanian Labour Party headed by Comrade Enver Hoxha, have fought heroically and tenaciously, overcoming great hardships, and have continuously advanced the cause of socialist revolution and socialist construction in their homeland with resounding success. The Albanian people are about to successfully complete their Third Five-Year Plan and are now preparing with even greater enthusiasm and confidence for the Fourth Five-Year Plan, which will begin next year. The Chinese people are genuinely delighted at the brilliant achievements attained by our Albanian brothers and sisters, and we wholeheartedly wish them new and even greater successes in the future.

The Government of the People’s Republic of Albania and the Albanian people have steadfastly opposed the aggressive and war-mongering policies of U.S. imperialism, actively supported the anti-imperialist revolutionary movements of the peoples of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and firmly backed the Vietnamese people’s struggle against U.S. aggression to defend their country. In doing so, they have made significant contributions to the great cause shared by all peoples—the struggle for world peace, national liberation, people’s democracy, and socialism. The influence and role of the People’s Republic of Albania in international affairs are steadily growing day by day.

The glorious Albanian Labour Party has consistently and unswervingly upheld the banner of Marxism-Leninism, waged an unwavering struggle against modern revisionism, and made outstanding contributions to safeguarding the purity of Marxism-Leninism and promoting revolutionary unity among the international proletariat. The Albanian Labour Party truly deserves its reputation as a stalwart force within the international communist movement, earning the respect and admiration of Marxists-Leninists and revolutionary people throughout the world.

The Communist Parties of China and Albania, as well as our two countries and our two peoples, have forged a close friendship in the common cause of opposing imperialism, building socialism, and advancing human progress, and in the struggle against modern revisionism to defend Marxism-Leninism. The great friendship and combat solidarity between our two peoples, founded on the principles of Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism, can withstand any test and is unbreakable. We are firmly convinced that this revolutionary friendship and solidarity will shine ever more brightly.

Long live the eternal, unbreakable fraternal friendship between the Chinese and Albanian peoples!

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

November 28, 1965