Looking back over China's last 30 Years 

1.  On December 18, 1978, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping gave his answer. In a Communist Party meeting in Beijing that day, the political elite adopted Deng's pragmatic program and launched economic reforms.

2.  Its economy has grown at an average of 9.8 percent since 1978, making it the fourth largest economy in the world.  

3.  Thirty years ago, there was little international trade. There were few tourists and few cars, but there were millions of bicycles on the streets. Now the streets are jammed with cars, and the air is polluted with fumes, grit and noise. 

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/18/china.reform.florcruz/index.html