The 1950s

1950, June: Agrarian Reform Law. Land of landlords and wealthy farmers is re-distributed to millions of peasants

1953-1957: 1. Five Year Plan focusing on Soviet-style development of heavy industries.

1958: All land is collectivized and farmers are organized into (large) People's Communes.

1959-1961: "Great Leap Forward" triggers largest famine in human history with an estimated 14-30 million casualties.

The 1960s

1961-1965: Increase in production and import of agricultural inputs (fertilizers, machinery, pesticides)

1961-1965: Readjustment and recovery: "Agriculture First" policy. Food situation improves.

1966-1976: Between "Cultural Revolution" and Mao's death stagnation in agriculture and industry.

The 1970s

1977: Hua Guofeng starts "Open Door" policy, which is later incorporated in Deng Xiaopings "Four Modernizations" program.

1978-1990: Introduction of Pragmatism in China's political and economic system. Promotion of market elements.

1978-1979: Deng Xiaoping introduces stepwise economic reforms: "The Four Modernizations".

1979: Introduction of the "Household Responsibility System" in agriculture greatly improves China's food security.

The 1980s

1980: Special Economic Zones in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou (Guangdong), Xiamen (Fujian), and the entire province of Hainan.

1980-1990: Great improvement of China's food security. Significant reduction of rural poverty.

1980, Aug.: First Special Economic Zones are established in Shenzhen.

1984: 14 coastal cities are completely opened to foreign investment.

1986: Deng Xiaoping boosts "Open-door" policy to encourage Foreign Direct Investments.

1988: Excessive economic growth with rampand corruption and out-of-control inflation of 18.5%.

1989, Dec.: Stock markets are opened in Shanghai and Shenzhen.

The 1990s

1990-2004: The process of restructuring and / or closing of state-owned enterprises is accelerated.

1992: Deng Xiaoping accelerates market reforms to establish a "socialist market economy".

1995: Overheating of the economy: 17% Inflation rate.

1998-1999: Slow-down of the Chinese economy - partly due to Asian Financial Crisis.

The 2000s

2001, Nov.: After years of negotiations, China becomes a member of the World Trade Organization.

2002: Kentucky Fried Chicken (a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc.) opens China's 700th KFC restaurant.

2006, Jan.: CNOOC, one of China's largest oil and gas producers buys a stake in a Nigerian offshore oil and gas field.

2007, Nov.: French company Areva wins deal to build two nuclear reactors in the South of China.

2008, Nov.: The government announces a $586 billion economic stimulus package.

2009, Feb.: 20 million migrant workers may have lost their jobs in China due to global economic crisis.

2009, Feb.: China makes largest investment in foreign company.

2009, Nov.: China is now the largest automobile market in the world.

2009, Dec.: New gas pipeline is opened between Turkmenistan and China.

2011, Feb.: China overtakes Japan as world's second-biggest economy.

2011, July: Coca-Cola profits jump on sales to China.