Deng Xiaoping

Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) was a Chinese communist revolutionary and a leading figure of the People’s Republic of China. A veteran of the Chinese Communist Party, he rose to national prominence after 1949 and later became the country’s paramount leader from the late 1970s. Deng is widely associated with launching “reform and opening up,” policies that introduced market-oriented economic changes while maintaining one-party rule. Under his leadership, China pursued modernization and expanded engagement with the global economy. Though not primarily known as a literary author, Deng’s speeches and political writings have been influential in shaping modern Chinese policy and governance.