Books on late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping (1904-1997), known as the Chief Architect of China's reform, opening and modernization, have a ready market among Chinese college students.

Yu Deyong, a graduate of the Northeast China Finance University, said, "Books on Deng Xiaoping provide much food for thought. Young people have obligations to study great men."

He had recently bought a book at a book center in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province that discussed Deng's eight inspection tours of southern China. "After reading the book, I learned what the market economy and the modern enterprise system are. Deng Xiaoping changed our lives," he said.

The book center provides customers with a great variety of books on Deng as part of activities to mark his 100th birthday anniversary on August 22. The books discuss Deng's life story, historical achievements, theory, personality, love and family life. Some books, including the "Spirit of Deng Xiaoping" and the "Manner of Deng Xiaoping," are displayed in conspicuous places.

Youngsters constitute the majority of buyers, said a bookseller in the street of Taiyuan. Since summer vacation started, a growing number of university students come to read and buy books on Deng, he said.

A female third-year student at the Shenyang Industrial University, surnamed Wang, said, "Young people should have the noble sentiment of Deng Xiaoping, a son of the Chinese people who cherished a deep love for his motherland and people." Wang said she planned to read some books about Deng during her summer vacation.

A 30-year-old man, surnamed Chen, is interested in books reflecting Deng's philosophical thinking. "His theory of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts is the soul of business development. Without this concept, it would be impossible for businesses to make innovations," he said.

Chinese ideological experts outlined two chief reasons why young people are attracted to books on Deng: more and more college students have come to appreciate the significance of economic reforms and the open door policy initiated by Deng in the course of the development of China's market economy and globalization, and the three ups and downs in his political life seem to have a special appeal for youngsters.

(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2004)