Chapter 1　A Great Transition to Introduce Reform (1978-1984)

The Beginning: the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee

Prelude: the central work conference of the CPC Central Committee in 1978

The Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee was held at a critical juncture of Chinese history.On May 10, 1978, Theory Movement, an internal publication of the School of the CPC Central Committee, published "Practice Is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth", an article reviewed by Hu Yaobang, vice president of the school. The article triggered a nationwide discussion on the criteria for testing truth, laying a theoretical foundation for the Plenary Session.

From November 10 to December 15, 1978, the central work conference of the CPC Central Committee was held at Jingxi Hotel in Beijing. At the meeting Deng Xiaoping made an important speech titled "Emancipate the Mind, Seek Truth from Facts, and Unite as One in Looking to the Future", pointing out that the central leadership had proposed to shift the focus of the Party to realizing the "four modernizations". He stressed that the entire Party should free up its mind, think hard, seek truth from facts, and unite as one in looking to the futre. His speech triggered widespread responses, and served as a declaration of emancipating the mind in the new era. It prepared the whole Party for correctly handling historical issues and initiating reform and opening up at the Plenary Session that followed.

A great transition: the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee

Under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping and with the support of other veteran revolutionaries, and on the basis of the central work conference, the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee was held in Beijing on December 18-22, 1978.

The session examined the leftist errors of the Cultural Revolution and criticized the "two whatevers" policy. It emphasized that Mao Zedong Thought should be considered comprehensively and accurately. In addition, the great debate on the criteria for testing truth proved of great worth, and a guideline was set of "emancipate the mind, seek truth from facts, and unite as one in looking to the future". It made a historic decision in favor of reform and opening up and greater attention to socialist modernization.

The Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee marked a significant turning point with the beginning of reform and opening up and socialist modernization.