The message said:

I extend warm congratulations and comradely greetings to you on your 80th birthday.

I am pleased that the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two parties and two countries provided by the preceding leaders are steadily growing stronger through the joint struggle to defend and realize the idea of socialism.

I sincerely wish you good health and new success in your responsible work for consolidating the popular democratic system and achieving the prosperity of the country.