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Take me, for example. I am 81. People wanted me to take up the post of Chairman of the party, but I told them that I was too old for that. Then people wanted me to take the post of President, and I said no, I wouldn't do that. I said people who are more energetic [should] do these jobs. So after that we have gradually made it a policy. That is, we will promote more young people to leading posts. Since then, the central authorities have called for the introduction of the program that will ensure that more young people are put in the leading positions who are more competent professionally and who have a higher educational level.
On his place in history. I don't want people to honor me. Never. I don't deserve that. Because what I do is nothing other than what reflects the wishes of the Chinese people and the Communist Party members. And the policies formulated in recent years have been formulated collectively. In the past 30 years or so, until the Cultural Revolution started, I was one of the principal leaders in China, and I think I should be held responsible for the mistakes during those years. No one is perfect in the world. So that's why I never want to write a memoir or an autobiography. Particularly in recent years, I haven't done much [laughter].
On Soviet-Chinese relations. The Soviet Union has new leaders, and the people of the world are watching to see what will happen. It is not clear where Gorbachev is going, or how far. Soviet strength in Asia has grown; that's true. Their naval strength in the Pacific is the same as their strength in the Atlantic. One-third of [their] strategic missiles are directed against the Asian Pacific region, and that includes China, of course. They have 1 million troops with modern equipment on the Sino-Soviet border.
We hope to normalize Sino-Soviet relations. But there are three obstacles that must be removed. First, Soviet support for the Vietnamese invasion of Kampuchea. Second, Afghanistan. Third, reduction of missiles and troops on the Sino-Soviet border. These three obstacles threaten not only China but also all of Asia. We bring this up at every meeting with the Soviets, and we realize that removing all three at the same time "might be difficult." [So now we say] one at a time. So far we have had no positive response.
On the Geneva summit. We welcome the summit. It's better to meet each other than not to meet. But we do not have high expectations. It is difficult to pass judgment on the Soviet proposal to reduce their missile strength by 50%. It seems that this is a rather good proposal. However, as to whether the two sides can reach an agreement on this proposal, we will not pass any judgment now, nor will it be easy to pass a judgment. Even if there will be an agreement on a 50% reduction, I don't think it will help solve the present problem.