November 12, 1989

I have spoken a great deal recently, and I have no more to say. Nevertheless, at this time when I'm going to retire from my leading post in the Military Commission, I think I should talk with you a little. What I have to say is very brief.

I am convinced that our army will be able to steadfastly maintain its own character, that is, that it will continue to belong to the Party, the people and our socialist country. In this respect our army is different from the armies of other countries, including other socialist countries, because our experience has been different from theirs. Our army should always be loyal to our Party, to the people, to our country and to socialism. I am certain that it will remain so and that, having been tested for several decades, it will be able to do its duty.

One more thing I want to tell you is that the Chairman of the Military Commission has been replaced. The Party has decided to place Comrade Jiang Zemin at the core of its Central Committee. I think that is a good choice. Comrade Jiang Zemin is well qualified to be Chairman of the Military Commission because he is well qualified to be General Secretary of the Party. I hope that, under the leadership of the Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin at the core, and of the Military Commission with Comrade Jiang Zemin as Chairman, you will do still better in strengthening the army. Thus, it will be able to make greater contributions to safeguarding the independence and sovereignty of the state, defending the cause of socialism and upholding the line, principles and policies formulated by the Party since the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee.

Although I have left the army and retired from all my posts, I shall always be concerned for the cause of our Party and our country and to the future of our army.

Thank you.

(From Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping, Volume III <1982-1992>)