The Four Modernizations (simplified Chinese: 四个现代化; traditional Chinese: 四個現代化;), were the goals of Deng Xiaoping’s reforms. They were first introduced by Zhou Enlai in 1976. The Four Modernizations were in the fields of:
- Agriculture
- Industry
- Science and technology
- The military
These reforms were a policy of economic self-reliance. The People's Republic of China decided to accelerate the modernization process by stepping up the volume of foreign trade, especially the purchase of machinery from Japan and the West. By participating in such export-led growth, China was able to step up the Four Modernizations by attaining certain foreign funds, market, advanced technologies and management experiences, thus accelerating its economic development.
The Four Modernizations were alluded to in a wall poster by Chinese activist Wei Jingsheng which called for a Fifth Modernization, democracy.
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