Rewi Alley’s 90th birthday today

Press, 2 December 1987, Page 35

Rewi Alley’s 90th birthday today

By

TIM DONOGHUE

of NZPA Hong Kong The General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, Zhao Ziyang, and China’s Acting Premier, Li Peng, are expected to participate in Rewi Alley’s ninetieth birthday celebrations in Peking today.

The chief research officer for Rewi Alley’s Works in Peking, Madam Lu Wanru,. said Zhao Ziyang and Li Peng were scheduled to visit Mr Alley at 9.30 a.m. for 30 minutes.

Mr Alley has been in hospital in Peking since June 11, but would return to his flat for the proposed birthday meeting.

Madam Lu said the New Zealand Ambassador to China, Mr Lindsay Watt, had also been invited to attend.

China’s paramount leader, Deng Xiaoping, hosted a banquet at the Great Hall of the People to celebrate Mr Alley’s eightieth birthday on December 2, 1977. “Since Deng Xiaoping participated in Rewi’s eightieth birthday celebrations the decision has been made that it is important for China’s new leadership to meet Rewi

personally also,” Madam Lu said.

The Deputy Governor of the Gansu Province and the Deputy Chairman of the Gansu Province Peoples’ Congress will make the trip from northwestern China to participate in the celebrations. The sixtieth anniversary of Mr Alley’s arrival in China was celebrated in April this year at a banquet in the Great Hall of the People. Zhao Ziyang was confirmed as party secretary at the first plenary meeting of the thirteenth central committee on November 2.

Li Peng joined Zhao Ziyang on the new Politburo standing committee and is expected to replace the latter as State Premier.

Also expected to attend the ninetieth birthday celebrations is Mr Alley’s long-time friend in China, Dr Ma Haide.

Mr Alley’s flat is in the compound of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries in Peking. Madam Lu said because Mr Alley had been in Peking Hospital since June no banquet had been planned for his ninetieth birthday.