p June 17, 1969

p Dear comrades, 

p Our dear foreign friends and brothers,

p The International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties has successfully completed its work.

p Now that our extensive and fruitful work has ended and we have changed the work table, the table of creative discussion, for this festive table, allow me here, at this reception, to extend cordial greetings on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and all Communists of our country to the representatives of the fraternal Parties as the welcome guests of our Party and the whole Soviet people. (Applause.)

p For us Soviet Communists it is a great honour that such a representative meeting of the Communist Parties of the world has been held in our country’s capital, Moscow.

p We are sure that this Meeting will enter the history of the world communist movement as a major event in our joint struggle against imperialism and in rallying all Communists and uniting their efforts for the attainment of our great common aims.

p There are sufficiently weighty grounds for this assessment.

p As has been repeatedly noted, the very preparations for our Meeting were conspicuously comprehensive and democratic, and they took place in a constructive and comradely spirit. They have thus set a fine example of fruitful collective effort by the Communists of many Parties.

p The profound, principled, businesslike, free and open 204 discussion at the Meeting enabled all of us to compare the views and assessments of individual Parties and examine pressing problems of our movement in detail and without any inhibitions. It may be said definitely that as a result a further substantial contribution has been made towards the development of our revolutionary theory. The speeches of the leaders of many fraternal Parties mirrored the experience of concretely applying the Marxist-Leninist teaching in the specific situation and conditions of the struggle in different parts of the world. On the whole, the discussion of the basic question on our Meeting’s agenda will unquestionably enrich the entire communist movement and each of its Parties, that have attended the Meeting, and it will help us to use the valuable experience of the fraternal Parties.

p The documents adopted at the Meeting give all of us a new weapon in our common struggle. They will help the Communists and the working people of all countries to see more clearly the ways of the further struggle against imperialist aggression and oppression. They will resound throughout the world as our joint fraternal appeal to all honest, progressive forces championing the cause of freedom, peace and happiness of the peoples.

p Naturally, the adopted documents are only a foundation for further massive work by the Parties represented here. But one can say confidently that this is a good and reliable foundation. (Applause.) It reflects an important stage in the strengthening of the fraternal unity of the Communists against the forces of imperialism, reaction and war. It will inspire optimism and faith in further victories of our cause and in the further cohesion of our movement.

p Ahead of us are arduous battles with a strong, experienced and resourceful class adversary. This induces all of us to strive for unity of action even when there are some divergences in our views on certain issues. The all-sided exchange of experience of struggle, which has taken place at our Meeting, and the working out of a coordinated stand on the most important pressing problems of the communist movement are the best guarantee that having united our ranks and agreed and coordinated our actions we shall win these battles.

p At the Meeting the delegations of the fraternal Parties repeatedly spoke of the contribution of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Soviet state to the common 205 struggle against imperialism, to the triumph of our just cause. The high assessment of our policy by our comrades in struggle and the Meeting’s document dedicated to the centenary of the birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, founder and leader of our Party and the Soviet state, inspire us, Soviet Communists, and our entire Soviet people.

p Permit me, dear comrades, to assure you that the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, which is unshakably true to the teaching of Marx and Lenin and to the principles of proletarian internationalism, shall not stint its strength to facilitate the realisation of the new prospects that are opening for our movement and for all the anti-imperialist forces as a result of our Meeting.

p Dear friends,

p Time passed unnoticeably during the proceedings, during the discussion. It seems that only yesterday we were warmly welcoming you to Moscow. As always happens in such cases, we shall feel a little sad at parting with you.

p On behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, permit me to ask you to convey to your Parties, and to the workers, peasants and intellectuals of your countries the most cordial greetings from the Soviet Communists, from the whole 240-million-strong Soviet people. (Applause.)

p I propose your health, dear comrades and friends- inarms!

p I toast the success of our sacred struggle against oppression, exploitation and poverty, for the liberation of the peoples, for mankind’s bright future!

p Long live the unity of the Communists of all countries!

Long live communism! (Stormy, prolonged applause. All rise.)