Veteran revolutionary Bo Yibo dies at 99

Bo a man of vision

The death of Bo Yibo, the last surviving founder of the People's Republic, is symbolic of the completion of China's leadership succession.

The old generation will be remembered for heroic deeds such as the Long March, the lengthy War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and the rocky start of the national economy.

They will also be thought of when people recall blunders like the "cultural revolution" (1966-76), during which Bo was a victim along with many of his comrades.

And people will remember him when they think of the nation's glorious renewal that began in 1978, in which Bo was a key partner with Deng Xiaoping, the architect of the reform and opening up.

Bo, who passed away in Beijing on Monday aged 99, joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) when he was only 17.

He first demonstrated his gift for organization when he took command of one of the most courageous battalions of Chinese youths that faced up to the Japanese invasion.

But his determination in battling the Japanese showed only one side of his leadership qualities.

Born in Shanxi, a province previously known for trade and finance, Bo had the opportunity to put his native management culture to the test when he became the nation's chief economic official after the founding of the People's Republic.

Stabilizing prices, and unifying financial administration were among the milestones of he oversaw as the planned economy was introduced to war-torn China.

Nearly every year he oversaw the drawing up of a new version of the nation's economic plan, helping bequeath China its public infrastructure and its contemporary position as a leading industrial force.

But his work was by no means limited to drawing up the plans. As China began its reform and opening-up, he was an important partner for Deng, helping China reorient itself in the "uncharted water" of the market economy. He embraced the change as a transition to an even stronger and more prosperous country.

Today in the office that Bo once oversaw are a new generation of men and women, using more sophisticated methods and running an economy many times bigger than the one he managed.

But Bo will be remembered no matter who staffs his old office and how much the economy grows.

He will be remembered by his successors not just as a man of integrity and resourcefulness, but more importantly as an example of what a man of vision can achieve.

Editor:Du Xiaodan