Mao Zedong to Liu Shaoqi

TELEGRAM, MAO ZEDONG TO LIU SHAOQI

JANUARY 17, 1950

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Comrade [Liu] Shaoqi:

(1) In response to the Vietnamese Government's request to establish diplomatic relations [with us], we should consent to it and give it our reply immediately. I have drafted a reply. Please broadcast it tomorrow (the 18th), while at the same time telegraphing it to Ho Chi Minh by internal radio transmitter.

(2) Our foreign ministry should pass the Vietnamese Government's statement requesting establishing diplomatic relations with foreign countries to the Soviet Union and the other new democratic countries.

Mao Zedong

10:00 p.m., 17 January [1950]

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TELEGRAM, MAO ZEDONG AND ZHOU ENLAI TO LIU SHAOQI

1 February 1950

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Comrade Liu Shaoqi:

Please convey our greetings to Comrade Ho Chi Minh. He has played the role as the leader and organizer in the heroic struggle for Vietnam's national independence and the establishment of a people's democratic government in Vietnam. China and Vietnam have recognized each other, and will soon establish diplomatic relations. The Soviet Union has already recognized Vietnam, and it is hoped that the other new people's democratic countries will all give their recognition (our embassy in the Soviet Union has delivered Vietnam's memorandum asking for foreign recognition and establishing diplomatic relations to the embassies of all new democratic countries in the Soviet Union). We sincerely congratulate Vietnam's joining the anti-imperialist and democratic family headed by the Soviet Union. We wish that the unification of the entire Vietnam would be soon realized. We also wish Comrade Ho Chi Minh and his comrades-in-arms good health.

Mao Zedong

Zhou Enlai

1 February 1950

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