BEIJING, Feb. 20 -- China is praising the economic reforms of late Communist Party patriarch Deng Xiaoping ('DUNG Shaow-peeng') and vows to continue down the path to 'stability and prosperity.' Deng, 92, died of complications from Parkinson's Disease and lung infection late Wednesday.
In a lengthy obituary by the official Xinhua ('Shin-hwaa') news agency, Deng is touted for his 'historic' reforms which brought a market economy to China and opened the nation to the outside world. Xinhua adds his death is 'an immeasurable loss and will cause tremendous grief' for the Chinese people. The official 11-part obituary placed most emphasis on Deng's sweeping package of economic reforms in the late 1970s which transformed China from an isolated, impoverished communist state to an economic powerhouse with a growing influence in world affairs. The party mouthpiece also urged Chinese to 'persist in economic construction and restructuring,' saying this would ensure continued peace and stability in the world's largest nation. ---
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