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Editor's note: Liu Shaoqi (1898-1969) was once China's second most powerful leader. He rose to prominence through the leading workers' movement in the fledging days of the Communist Party of China, and was chairman of China from 1959 to 1968. Once recognized as the successor to Mao Zedong, he was purged during the Cultural Revolution and died from illness in 1969. Eleven years later, he was politically rehabilitated by Deng Xiaoping.

Alyosha met his grandfather Liu Shaoqi for the first and last time in the Soviet Union in 1960. [Photo provided to the Beijing News by Alyosha.]

Liu's rise and fall during his lifetime and posthumous rehabilitation bear witness to the revolution, evolution and reform of modern China. The historical ethos, turmoil and lessons still resound today.

His eldest grandson, Russia-born Alyosha (Chinese name Liu Weining), sat down in an interview with the Beijing News on Nov. 24, the 116th anniversary of Liu's birthday. Alyosha talked about the tumultuous history of his family and his burden and duty as a descendent of the Liu family. The following story is based on the interview and some previous reports.

1960: Meeting his grandfather for the first and last time

Alyosha was born in Russia in 1955. His father Liu Yunbin, the eldest son of Liu Shaoqi, went to study in Russia in 1939 and later married a Russian woman in 1950. He stayed in Russia until 1957.

Alyosha did not see his grandfather till in 1960 when Liu Shaoqi visited the Soviet Union.

"A black limo picked us up one evening. I saw a tall old amicable man who came out, hugging me and kissing me. That was my grandfather. He brought me many toys and also some gifts for my mother's family. I was a bit shy in his arms at first because I'd never met him before, but soon I could feel the love from a grandfather and my unease faded away. I can still remember that feeling," Alyosha reminisced.

Alyosha's father Liu Yunbin returned to China in 1957, as the senior Liu wrote him a letter asking him to "help build the People's Republic of China."

"When your personal interest is in conflict with the interest of the Party, I believe you can sacrifice your own interest for the sake of the Party and the country," the letter read.

Liu Yunbin left his wife and children in Russia. Though he and the family exchanged letters, the correspondence stopped when the China-Soviet relations began to grow bitter in the 1950s.

The last time Liu Yunbin's Russian wife came to visit him in China was in 1959. She sensed the brewing tensions between China and the Soviet Union and decided not to go to China, which effectively saved Alyosha and the other family members.

Late 1960s: The fall of the Lius

When Alyosha was growing up in Russia, he did not know about the turmoil in China had befallen his father and grandfather.

The disastrous Cultural Revolution began in 1966 and Liu Shaoqi was soon labeled as a "traitor" and "the biggest capitalist roader in the Party." He was removed from all his positions and expelled from the Party in October 1968 and then disappeared from public view.

He died in November, 1969, in central China's Henan Province.

Alyosha did not find out about his grandfather's death until years later. "My understanding of my grandfather has been developing over the years. I have come to realize how extraordinary it was for him to achieve so much at that time." he said.

"He contributed to the liberation of the Chinese people and the foundation of the People's Republic of China. He was the leader during the early days of the country and laid a solid foundation for the friendly relationship between China and Russia. He was a historic trailblazer," Alyosha added.

Alyosha was not informed of his father's death either.

An expert in atomic bombs, Liu Yunbin came back to China and set up a research team in the distant city of Baotou in Inner Mongolia, which was responsible for the research of new fusion materials.

But he was condemned and treated harshly during the Cultural Revolution due to his experience in Russia and for being the son of Liu Shaoqi. He was later found dead on a railway in suburb Baotou.

"I didn't believe that he committed suicide at first because I thought he was an intelligent, calm and aspiring person. But when I learnt more about that period, I found out that he was a pioneer as well and he was convinced that his faith was right. He could not take it when he was denounced as a spy and public enemy and therefore killed himself. It was due to that time." Alyosha said.

2003: Back to China

Alyosha avoided being known as the grandson of Liu Shaoqi for fear of being spied on by the KGB when the relationship between China and Soviet Union deteriorated.

He worked at the national aviation command center of the Soviet Union for a number of years. The center did not know his identity until he was invited by China to join in a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Liu's birthday in 1998. His request was postponed for a long time as his work involved secrecy.

After the missed commemoration, Alyosha grew more anxious to visit China. He applied to retire early from the military, only to be refused. He then filed a lawsuit, and five years later he eventually managed to visit China for the first time.

"The history of my family is part of China's history. I hope that my life can be connected to China. I wanted to visit the places where my father and grandfather were born and grew up," Alyosha explained.

When he set foot on Chinese soil in 2003, he was surprised by everything he saw: the skyscrapers, the wide streets and the hospitality of the Chinese people – these things were rarely talked about in Russia at that time. He later decided to stay in China and now he runs an organization that facilitates trade between China and Russia in Guangzhou in southern China.

Alyosha admitted that being the descendent of the Liu family has been a burden. "I felt like I was under the spotlight every minute. I hang a picture of my grandfather in my office to remind myself not to let him and the entire family down."

As to the history of the family including the plight it went through, Alyosha said, "It is part of China's history. We can only stand firm in the present and look at this part of history in a fair manner."

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