December 18 marks four decades since China kickstarted a process which would transform it from a poverty-ridden country into an economic superpower. But as the 40th anniversary of this speech approaches, a battle is underway to decide the future of China's economic miracle. In 1978, China was in the grip of extreme poverty brought about by decades of disastrous economic and political mismanagement. The Chinese Communist Party has defied predictions and maintained its hold on power. Some liberal academics in China have been using Trump's trade moves to push for greater economic opening behind the scenes.

Source: CNN December 17, 2018 00:37 UTC