Li Peng clears confusion over relationship to late Zhou Enlai

Former Chinese premier Li Peng, 82, dismissed rumors that he was the adopted son of the late premier Zhou Enlai, although he said he was close to Zhou and his late wife, Deng Yingchao.

In his recently published memoir, Li wrote that his relation with Zhou and Deng was like "a relationship between old comrades and martyrs' descendants."

"Some say I was the adopted son of premier Zhou. It is not correct," Li wrote.

"Premier Zhou and mother Deng cared about many martyrs' descendants and I was one of them. They cared just as much about the other descendents of their comrades-in-arms. We all call them uncle Zhou and mother Deng."

Li was the son of Li Shuoxun and Zhao Juntao, both of whom were early leaders of the Communist Party of China.

His father was killed in September 1931 in South China's Hainan Province.

Li in his writing revealed how Zhou and Deng helped guide him and other martyrs' descendants after their parents died during the revolution.

The memoir, which covered events between 1928 and 1983, recorded his education and work experience as well as his relations and conversations with leaders of the Party. Li became vice premier in 1983.

The memoir was published this month with 16 chapters, 130 rare historic photos and more than 480,000 Chinese characters.