Liu Shaoqi (Liu Shao-ch'i; 24 November 1898 - 12 November 1969) was a Chinese revolutionary; statesman; and theorist. He was Chairman of the People's Republic of China; China's head of state; from 27 April 1959 to 31 October 1968; during which he implemented policies of economic reconstruction in China. He fell out of favour in the later 1960s during the Cultural Revolution because of his perceived 'right-wing' viewpoints and; it is theorised; because Mao viewed Liu as a threat to his power. He disappeared from public life in 1968 and was labelled China's premier 'Capitalist-roader' and a traitor. He died under harsh treatment in late 1969; but he was posthumously rehabilitated by Deng Xiaoping's government in 1980 and given a state funeral.

Deng Xiaoping (Teng Hsiao-p'ing; 22 August 1904 - 19 February 1997) was a Chinese politician; statesman; theorist; and diplomat. As leader of the Communist Party of China; Deng was a reformer who led China towards a market economy. While Deng never held office as the head of state; head of government or General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (historically the highest position in Communist China); he nonetheless served as the paramount leader of the People's Republic of China from 1978 to 1992.