The Man Who Modernized China

In today's video we look at the history of China's economic development. When Mao Zedong died in 1976 his successors seized the opportunity to reassess the wisdom of Chinas rigid commitment to Marxist doctrine. With Deng Xiaoping in charge, China scoured the globe in search of economic expertise to put China on the path to domestic prosperity and ultimately global economic power.

The World Bank describes China’s growth as “the fastest sustained expansion by a major economy in history,” In today's video we try to understand what changes were made that allowed China to grow to become the second largest economy in the world.

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[moipaslui]

Fun fact, Montargis, a small town in the middle of France has a Deng Xiao Ping square, the mayor of the town has also been called to come see Deng in China because he worked there in his youth and has fond memories. Thanks to that, the French-Chinese bond in Montargis might be one of the strongest in France with multiple associations regularly exchanging students and a local high school teaching Mandarin.

[SvjatoslavPodoplelov]

It is important to study facts and not indulge too much in anti-China or pro-China propaganda. I am glad to see Patrick understands that. That speaks to his professional integrity as an analyst.

[SpenserLi]

As a Chinese national born in and lived through that era of the history I want to say this is easily one of the most accurate and well informed video of the topic. I really appreciate that.

[keithng]

How can you forget about Deng's visit to Singapore in 1978 which arguably was even more important than the Japanese one!

[EurekaZhuJinxuan]

As Chinese, i am surprised that this episode really captures the important unrestness of those years.

[jameskoh]

What has been left out of this excellent account is the part played by Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew, who made a deep impression on Deng when he visited Singapore. Later China sent thousands upon thousands of officials to Singapore to learn its system of economic development and management. Xi Jinping himself went in the 1980s. Singapore also helped China to set up the Suzhou Industrial Park as a model for China's development in other regions. In this way, China learned modern economic management, greening of the environment, market system, etc. Goh Keng Swee (Singapore's finance minister and chief economic architect) was sent as an economic adviser for China. Lee Kuan Yew told Deng, Singapore is only a small country, China could do a thousand times better... and that is what happened.
What was crucial to China in the early stages of economic development was the role played by the overseas Chinese investors who went to invest in China when the Western world was reluctant to do so, because of the many red tapes and backward bureaucratic system, as well as a lack of trust in a communist administration.

[Julian-]

YOUR voice-cadence-delivery is Amazing, not a single unnecessary utterance.
I thought I would Skim through to the spoiler, instead I was immediately intrigued, even sat thru the ad.
I’m subscribing.
Cheers

[ice-cold]

To lift 800 million people out of poverty is a remarkable feat

[gstlb]

As someone who wrote a dissertation on China and has been studying it and visiting it since 1987, I think this is the best concise summary of Chinese economic development after Mao that I’ve seen on YouTube.

[YoY]

Deng wasnt the only person. People who came after him and guys who worked on the nitty gritty like Zhu Rongji had made remarkable contributions to their nation building. Even Mao had played his part by eviscerating domestic opposition(Same effect as that of the French Rev. except more top down) allowing the state to draft and implement policies much more effectively than in a society with "freedom". Deng started the reforms but China's reforms and growth didnt stop with him. Evry leader that followed him committed to his prioritization of growth and reforms to warying degrees. China's success warts and all speaks for itself.

[mengsiongkheng]

You missed a crucial visit by Deng to Singapore.
He was amazed how prosperous and modern Singapore is and more so the majority Chinese Singaporeans are immigrants from southern China.

Singapore established industrial zones in China to help China understand how these works. At the same time all mayors senior government officials from China were sent to Singapore to understand the governance system.

This is a more important visit to Japan.

[greysessentials]

Always good to wake up to a new Patrick Boyle video! From here in anchorage Alaska, keep up the amazing work!

[sjaw]

Boyle has missed out the role of Singapore/ Lee Kuan Yew played in the modernization of China. See remarks by James Koh. Many senior Chinese officials and Mayors were sent to Singapore in the 80s-90s to learn about urban management, public housing, waste management, airport management, education, etc.

[andychoi]

I have learned so much from Mr Boyle’s videos. Thank you!

[chokwoo]

Always amazed me why most Westerners never able to see the culture, mentality, determination of Chinese to regain China premier position, while keeping low key for long term success. Most countries complain about evilness colonization, only Chinese view as humiliation to be overtook by the West

[Rice_Cake_]

Wow that's a ton of research summarized in such a digestible format. Thank you!

[tlmoller]

Wonderful walkthrough of this important topic.

[WolfsHead-bpvs]

algorithm stuff....love your channel...

[aL_]

Fascinating stuff as always
Can we also all take a moment to appreciate that Patrick doesn't have a cut every 5 seconds, he's a proper lecturer, not very common on youtube :)

[johnlim]

This is a good video which describes the modern Chinese economy in the practical manner.