Polemic on General Line of International ... - From Marx to Mao

mutual support and mutual assistance in accordance with proletarianinternationalism.Every socialist country must rely mainly on itself for itsconstruction.In accordance with its own concrete conditions, every socialistcountry must rely first of all on the diligent labour andtalents of its own people, utilize all its available resourcesfully and in a planned way, and bring all its potential intoplay in socialist construction. Only thus can it build socialismeffectively and develop its economy speedily.This is the only way for each socialist country to strengthenthe might of the entire socialist camp and enhance its capacityto assist the revolutionary cause of the international proletariat.Therefore, to observe the principle of mainly relyingon oneself in construction is to apply proletarian internationalismconcretely.If, proceeding only from its own partial interests, anysocialist country unilaterally demands that other fraternalcountries submit to its needs, and uses the pretext of opposingwhat they call “going it alone” and “nationalism” to preventother fraternal countries from applying the principle of relyingmainly on their own efforts in their construction andfrom developing their economies on the basis of independence,or even goes to the length of putting economic pressure onother fraternal countries — then these are pure manifestationsof national egoism.It is absolutely necessary for socialist countries to practisemutual economic assistance and co-operation and exchange.Such economic co-operation must be based on the principlesof complete equality, mutual benefit and comradely mutualassistance.It would be great-power chauvinism to deny these basicprinciples and, in the name of “international division oflabour” or “specialization”, to impose one’s own will on others,infringe on the independence and sovereignty of fraternalcountries or harm the interests of their people.41