Source: CCTV.com

12-16-2008 15:38

Talking about China's opening up policy means to talk about a politician and Statesman, whose name is directly related with the spectacular change from a very restricted state-directed economy towards a liberal leadership of state and economy. Deng Xiaoping is the father of China's opening up policy. His reforms are the basis for the breathtaking economical success, which made a poor third world country become one of the leading economic powers of our globe. A current example shows that China's economy just got ahead of Germany.

Helmut Matt

Without Deng's opening up policy a deregulation in the political and social sectors would have been unthinkable. Meanwhile China has become a very open society. While I was in China in 2005 and 2007 there was no taboo at all and it was possible to discuss all controversial topics. Chinese people were always very open and tolerant. I was surprised about the Chinese enthusiasm for discussions and the free spirit of several of my dialogue partners.

Today's China has a very versatile and colourful cultural life which reaches from Beijing Opera to modern Theatre, from simple Folk songs to classical Concerts and Techno or Rap. The same variety can be found in the building arts and literature. The new aim to reshape China in the sense of a harmonious society, aimed by Hu Jintao and today’s government, would be unimaginable without the reforms Deng Xiaoping invented in December 1978 – which brought more freedom and wealth to millions of Chinese people.