Mao's grandson no general yet: spokesman
AFP
BEIJING - A spokesman for Mao Zedong's grandson has denied media reports that the revolutionary leader's descendant had been made a general in the People's Liberation Army (PLA), a report said Saturday.
"Mao Xinyu can be appointed only next year before the anniversary of the foundation of the People's Liberation Army (August 1)", Guo Jinliang, private secretary for Mao Xinyu, was quoted as saying by the Guangzhou Daily.
However, the Guangzhou Daily on Saturday also quoted Mao Xinyu as saying of any promotion that "it is premature to talk about it. I will talk about it when it happens."
State media reported earlier this week that Mao had attended a recent function sponsored by the government of Hunan province -- his grandfather's homeland -- wearing the decorations of a major-general.
Mao Xinyu currently serves as vice-head of the academy's research centre on war and military strategy. He is also a leading member of the ruling Communist Party's Youth League and a top parliamentary political adviser.
He is the sole grandson of Mao Zedong and was earlier this year voted one of the most popular bloggers on the website of the People's Daily, the ruling Communist Party's newspaper.
The reports came ahead of this week's 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China by Mao Zedong, on October 1, 1949.
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