Everything Everywhere Daily · Friday, August 14, 2026
Brought back to political influence by Premier Zhou Enlai with Mao's blessing, Deng Xiaoping led China's economic recovery after the Cultural Revolution. He represented China at the UN in 1974, signaling its reentry into the global community, and initiated industrial reforms and modernization plans.
“Deng's days manning the factory floor were about to come to a swift end, and his old friend and the ailing premier Zhou Enlai, with the blessing and insistence of Mao, brought Deng back to political influence to lead the economic recovery in the wake of the Cultural Revolution.”
“His first order of business was to represent China at the United Nations in 1974, becoming the first leader of China to address the organization, signaling China's reentry into the global community.”
“He initiated a series of industrial reforms that further eroded Mao's influence over the economy.”