mid-1960s Neto opened the MPLA to anti-colonialist white Angolans and endorsed a policy of multiracialism in the movement.<ref>Fernando Tavares Pimenta, Angola no Percurso de um Nacionalista, pp. 65-85</ref> Exiled in China In the 1960s, he moved to Algeria to run his own faction of the MPLA, popularly known as the MPLA-Viriato. He finally went to Beijing, China. At first, the Chinese government welcomed him, since he wanted to help them bring Maoist-inspired revolution to Africa. He soon fell out of favour with the Chinese government due to his support for Liu Shaoqi, who had been denounced by Mao Zedong as a "capitalist-roader". Cruz wanted to leave China and return to Africa, but the Chinese government would not allow him to go. Last years The last years of his life were unhappy and difficult. He died on 13 June 1973. The MPLA has never acknowledged his role as the author of its founding manifesto. Poetry work In poems such as "Mamãe negra (Canto de esperança)", Viriato da Cruz explore themes of Black African identity, and the symbol of "Mother Africa". Further reading Edmundo Rocha, Francisco Soares, Moisés Fernandes (eds.), Viriato da Cruz: O homem e o mito, Lisbon: Prefácio & Luanda: Chá de Caxinde, 2008. W. Martin James, "Cruz, Viriato Clemente da (25 March 1928-13 June 1973)", Historical Dictionary of Angola, Scarecrow Press, 2011; pp. 73–74. References 1928 births 1973 deaths People from Cuanza Sul Province MPLA politicians Angolan male poets Socialist realism writers Angolan communists 20th-century Angolan poets