Deng Xiaoping

Deng Xiaoping (1904-1997), anglicized name for Teng Hsiao-peng, was a Chinese revolutionary political leader and secretary-general of the Communist Party of China.

He was early Communist revolutionary, who rose quickly to high position. He had been long associated with the right wing, or more pragmatic faction of the Communist Party for which he had to periodically suffer.

During the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-69), he was branded as a counter-revolutionary and sentenced to internal exile but rescued later by patron Zhou En-lai.

After Zhou's and Mao's death, he became de facto leader of China. He promoted extensive economic liberalization and limited political reform. Later he supported crackdown on democratic rights movements.

Wisdom & Quotes

• Black cat, white cat. What does it matter, as long as it catches mice?

- debating the necessity for Communist orthodoxy

Pablo Neruda

Nearby pages
Dengue, Denis, Denis Calvaert, Denis Diderot, Denis Papin