Deng, 82, Plans to ‘Semi-Retire’ at Fall Congress

Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping said Sunday that he plans to “semi-retire” at a crucial party congress this fall but hinted that opposition to his complete withdrawal might force him to remain on the Communist Party’s powerful Politburo Standing Committee.

Western diplomatic sources said Deng’s partial retirement, if carried out, will set an example for the voluntary withdrawal of other aging party leaders to allow the rejuvenation of party ranks.

Deng, 82, made the announcement during talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Tadashi Kuranari, who led the Japanese delegation to the Fifth Japan-China Ministerial Conference, which ended Sunday in Beijing.

“There will be personnel changes at the 13th Party Congress,” Japanese sources quoted Deng as saying. The congress is to be held in October and is expected to name a new party chief and set policy for the next five years.

“I want to apply to retire from the Politburo Standing Committee,” said Deng, one of five standing members of China’s most powerful body, which has 20 members.

A new Politburo and its standing committee are to be elected by the congress, which meets every five years.

“I have already said that I want to completely retire,” said Deng, the most powerful man in China since 1978. “However, other people are not in favor of my retiring, so I plan to semi-retire.”