(January 25, 1976)
Bucharest
Comrade Nicolae Ceauşescu,
General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party,
President of the Socialist Republic of Romania:

We have learned with profound grief of the passing of Comrade Emil Bodnăraş, member of the Central Political Executive Committee of the Romanian Communist Party and Vice Chairman of the State Council of the Socialist Republic of Romania. On behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Government and people, we express our deep mourning and sincere condolences to you, and through you, to the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party, the State Council of the Socialist Republic of Romania, the Romanian Government and people.

Comrade Bodnăraş was an outstanding activist of the Romanian Party and state. He waged a tenacious struggle for the national and social liberation of Romania; he made important contributions to the cause of Romania’s socialist construction, to the defence of his motherland’s independence and state sovereignty, and to the strengthening of national defence.

Comrade Bodnăraş visited China on many occasions and was a good friend of the Chinese people. He made significant efforts to develop and strengthen the revolutionary friendship and militant unity between the Chinese and Romanian Parties, countries and peoples, leaving a deep impression on the Chinese people.

The passing of Comrade Bodnăraş is a great loss to the Romanian Party, state and people, and also a great loss to the Chinese people. We are deeply convinced that the Romanian people will turn grief into strength, rally closely around the Romanian Communist Party headed by Comrade Nicolae Ceauşescu, overcome the various difficulties on the path forward, and strive valiantly to fulfil all the tasks set forth by the Party.

Mao Zedong
Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China

Zhu De
Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China

Beijing, January 25, 1976