1949

‘Thus begins a new era in the history of China. We, the 475 million people of China, have now stood up. The future of our nation is infinitely bright.’

Revolutionary leader Mao led China as chairman of the Communist Party until his death in 1976. Above, he proclaims the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.

CHINA UNDER COMMUNISM

Some key dates:

Oct. 1, 1949: The People’s Republic of China is founded.

1958-61: Mao’s Great Leap Forward program of economic reforms stresses decentralized, labor-intensive industrialization.

1960-61: Failed reforms create agricultural crisis; famine kills up to 30 million.

1966-76: Cultural Revolution brings purges and persecutions of intellectuals and others opposing Mao.

1977-78: Deng Xioaping rises to power.

June 4, 1989: Army cracks down on pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, are killed.

Feb. 1997: “Paramount leader” Deng dies.

Deng’s Rural Reforms

After the disastrous experience of collective farming in the Maoist era, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping moved quickly to restore family farming to the countryside. The implementation of the “responsibility system” began in 1979 when farmers were allowed to sell some of their harvest for personal gain. Within two years, most agricultural communes had been dismantled and reforms set the stage for the 12th National Party Congress in 1982, when the broader economic liberalizations were unveiled. Rural communities were encouraged to invest in “township enterprises,” based on small-scale manufacturing, which now employ 100 million Chinese and are the backbone of the booming economy.

1997

‘Different countries have different characteristics. I feel we are free enough. People who think that freedom means how many parties are ruling the country have the wrong idea.’

Jiang is a former ditch digger who now manages a factory in Helie, a prosperous suburb of Wuxi, near Shanghai.

Sources: Columbia Encyclopedia, Political Handbook of the World 1997, Times staff reports