China to mark Deng’s first death anniversary

BEIJING, February 18: China will commemorate the first death anniversary of Deng Xiaoping tomorrow with top cadres expected to renew their allegiance to his radical reform policies and opening up of the Chinese economy.

Deng, hailed as the `Architect of Modern China’, died on February 19, 1997 after a prolonged illness. Though there is no word officially on a grand commemorative event, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said the best way to salute the late leader was to adhere to his thoughts. “In the one year since Comrade Deng passed away, China has made achievements both domestically and internationally. These achievements have been made in the context of the guiding source of Comrade Deng’s `building socialism with Chinese characteristics’ as well as his thoughts of foreign policy,” the spokesman said.

The mouthpiece of the Communist Party has urged the nation to honour the late leader on his first death anniversary “by recalling the great man as a friend.”