Deng launches Chinese reform
December 1978
At a party plenum in Beijing, Deng Xiaoping and his allies won approval for economic reforms that would pull rural China out of collectivization and open the country to foreign investment. Peasants were allowed to sell surpluses. Within a generation eight hundred million Chinese would be lifted out of poverty.
In context
Also in 1978 (7 other events on record)
- First test-tube baby born · Europe · Science
- Camp David Accords · Middle East · Politics
- John Paul II becomes pope · Europe · Religion
- Vietnamese boat people flee · Southeast Asia · Politics
- Jonestown mass suicide · South America · Politics
- Harvey Milk assassinated · North America · Politics
Before and after in East Asia
- Before: September 9, 1976: Mao dies
- After: May 18, 1980: Gwangju uprising
Before and after in Politics
Era
Modern Era (1901–2000), one of 590 events from that era on Saeculum.