Mao's grandson eyes run at politics

BEIJING — The grandson of China's revolutionary leader Mao Zedong said he wanted to get more involved in politics in an interview Thursday, just days after his promotion to major general.Mao Xinyu, who is a researcher at the Academy of Military Sciences of the People's Liberation Army, told the popular web portal Netease that politics appealed to him."Even before my mother died, she hoped I would get involved in politics. By entering the army, my mother chose for me a really good route and angle, and it's from the military that I will develop," he said.Mao's comments came after state media announced on Monday that he had been elevated to the rank of major general in the PLA.The 40-year-old, who bears a resemblance to the founder of communist China, has written several books including "My Grandfather Mao Zedong" and has a blog.He already serves as a delegate to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a body that in theory advises the main congress on political matters.Mao said in the interview that his family background had "definitely" helped his progress to major general."That is an objective fact, it can't be avoided," he was quoted as saying."I think that my friends and my army colleagues have this feeling. Everyone shifts their respect and love of Chairman Mao on me, so this definitely was a factor."Mao is the sole grandson of Mao Zedong and was last year voted one of the most popular bloggers on the website of the People's Daily, the Communist Party's newspaper. Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »

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