No Longer China’s Boss, Deng Says; Career ‘in Sunset’
BEIJING — Deng Xiaoping, at 84 still regarded as China’s most influential leader, said today he is no longer in charge and has passed the reins of power to Communist Party chief Zhao Ziyang and Premier Li Peng.
“In China today those in charge are Zhao Ziyang and Li Peng. I only look into a few matters,” New China News Agency quoted Deng as telling visiting Uruguayan President Julio Sanguinetti at a meeting in the Great Hall of the People.
Western diplomatic sources quoted Deng as adding that his career was “in its sunset.”
He told Sanguinetti that China’s progress in the last 10 years--the period of his rule, marked by pragmatic economic reforms--has been gratifying and national policies have been generally correct, the agency reported.
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