First Published: The Call, Vol. 6, No. 40, October 17, 1977.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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“Our two Parties, two governments and two peoples have maintained a fundamentally identical, correct, Marxist-Leninist stand.”
This affirmation of the militant revolutionary friendship between China and Democratic Kampuchea (formerly Cambodia) was given by Pol Pot, the first Secretary of the Communist Party Kampuchea who visited Peking last month.
At a banquet in honor of the Party and state delegation from Kampuchea, major speeches were made by Pol Pot as well as China’s leader, Hua Kuo-feng. The text of the statements was published Sept. 29 by the Hsinhua News Agency.
Speaking first, Hua Kuo-feng welcomed the Kampuchean comrades, calling their visit a “major event” in the relations between the two parties and countries. He said, “The Communist Party of Kampuchea, headed by comrade Pol Pot, is a staunch Marxist-Leninist Party.” He called the CPK “the force at the core leading the Kampuchean people in seizing victory in their revolution.”
Briefly summarizing Kampuchea’s great history of struggle against U.S. imperialism and the reactionary Lon Nol clique, Chairman Hua said that the Kampuchean people have set up ”the first proletarian state in Kampuchean history, in which the people have become masters of their own destiny.”
Illustrating some great achievements Kampuchea has made in building itself up since the war, Chairman Hua said that the “practice of the Kampuchean people’s revolutionary struggle eloquently proves that any country, whether big or small, can defeat big-power aggression, win liberation and do a good job of national reconstruction.. .if only it relies on the masses, upholds the principles of independence and self-reliance, persists in armed struggle and makes constant progress while summing up its experiences.”
Chairman Hua thanked the Kampuchean people and their Party for support in China’s hour of need—after the death of Chairman Mao and during the struggle against the “gang of four.” He also touched on some of the main features of the present international situation, pointing out the growing factors for both war and revolution.
While on the one hand showing that “both superpowers want to dominate the world,” Hua said that a vigilant and united struggle by the people could either delay the outbreak of war or put people’s forces in a better position when war breaks out.
In his speech, Pol Pot spoke of the “great, unbreakable, and everlasting militant solidarity” between Kampuchea and China. He expressed firm support for Chairman Hua, the overthrow of the “gang of four” and the decisions of the Chinese Communist Party’s recent Eleventh Congress.
In warmly praising Mao Tsetung Thought, Pol Pot said, “Following Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin, Chairman Mao and his thought have triumphantly stood the test of successive revolutionary storms.” He said that Mao Tsetung Thought today illuminates the path of revolution for people all over the world.
“More precisely,” Pol Pot said of Mao Tsetung Thought, “It is the most effective and sharp ideological and political weapon which infallibly guides our struggle to victory.”
The Kampuchean leader also spoke at length on the importance of the anti-imperialist struggles taking place in the non-aligned and third world countries. He stressed the support of his country and Party for the great revolutionary storms in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Pol Pot commented particularly in support of Korea’s fight for reunification, East Timor’s war of liberation, the Palestinian struggle against Zionism, the battle against apartheid and racism being waged by Azania, Zimbabwe, and Namibia and the third world’s demand for a new economic order.
Pol Pot then gave a detailed account of what has happened in Kampuchea since liberation. He commented on the great improvements in agriculture which have solved the food problem, as well as advances in water conservation, industry, health, culture, education, and other fields. He particularly stressed that the Kampuchean people were strengthening their defenses against all enemies, and would allow no encroachment of their sovereign territory.
Dwelling on the theme of internationalism, Pol Pot concluded by showing how Kampuchea was winning support for its revolution from people all over the world. He closed by affirming the bonds between China and Kampuchea in this way:
“We Kampuchean people cherish a deep love for the fraternal Chinese people. The joys and sorrows of the Chinese people are our joys and sorrows, the victories of the Chinese people are our victories. We are determined to work hard to protect, consolidate and develop this great militant unity and this fraternal revolutionary friendship so that they may last forever.”