Deng's Status in the History of China's Modernization

Deng Xiao-ping has a special status in the history of China's modernization. The reasons for this are mainly that, first, he is successful in solving a key problem-the relations between China's modernization and capitalism with which generations of the Chinese were puzzled, second, he, proceeding from the reality and inner requirements of the modernization of China and according to the conditions modern China is faced with, has led the people in finding a path to modrenization-opening up, third, he has solved the problem of how to accomplish modernization through socialism. Relating socialism with the market economy, Deng Xiao-ping has put forword the theory of the market economy and thus renewed the concept of socialism. Politically, he has emphasized building China into a democratic and legal country, presented a modern model of sustainable development with Chinese characteristics and thus left China to shake off the shackles of the Soviet Union model, found a way out of difficulties and achieved great successes of world interest.