A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Lao Tzu

An opium-addicted nation that remained under occupation by six foreign powers is now the world's second largest economy. How China managed to transform itself from a weak and fragile country to a global power house needs to be understood in the light of the Lao Tzu's quote above. It was under Mao Zedong that mainland China emerged as an independent country in October 1949. The policy of 'great leap forward' from late 1950s to early 1960s focused on reforming the country from an agrarian to an industrial economy.

Resilience, simplicity, efficiency, hard work, intelligence, integrity, commitment and dedication shaped China's road to modernisation which got an impetus during Mao's leadership and the 'open door policy' of Deng Xiaoping. Pulling 500 million people from below the poverty line by 1980s; focusing on industrialisation; augmenting exports; and planning to improve the quality of life of people shaped characteristics of the world's second most populous country. In the first decade of Communist China (1949-59), the Soviet Union was the principal backer of China. But following a rupture in their alliance and severance of assistance from Moscow, Beijing was on its own and succeeded in miraculously emerging as the world's second largest economy by 2015.

The secret of China's incredible success against all odds has another dimension: maintaining peace with its neighbours. The last war which China fought was in January 1979, with Vietnam.........

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