Newspaper: The Global Times

a) The Chinese government implemented economic reforms and modernization measures to

propel the country's development. The leader of the reform was Deng Xiaoping, who focused on
achieving economic stability and modernization. The government allowed increased personal
freedoms, encouraged foreign investments, and established joint ventures between the state
and foreign capital. These reforms aimed to develop a socialist market economy while
maintaining the political monopoly of the Communist Party. China has also actively engaged in
international trade and has established economic partnerships with countries like the United
States, Mexico, Thailand, Singapore, and Japan.

b) Vietnam's economic reform and modernization program, known as Doimoi, was proposed
during the Vietnamese Communist Congress in 1986. Doimoi aimed to open up the economy,
support industrialization, and transition from a centrally planned system to a mixed economy.
The plan involved increasing foreign investments and developing the industrial sector. Despite
the challenges faced due to the war, including damage to the agricultural sector and population
loss, Vietnam has made progress. It has become one of the world's top rice producers,
achieved stable economic growth, and stabilized its currency. However, poverty still persists in
rural areas, and there are limitations on freedom of expression and democracy.

c) The participants in Vietnam's Doimoi program were the Vietnamese Communist Party and the
government. They led the economic reforms and implemented policies to encourage foreign
investments and industrialization.

d) The Korean economy, specifically North Korea, faced significant challenges after the war with
the United States. However, North Korea has made efforts to improve its economy over time.
Although specific details about the improvements are not mentioned in the provided text, it can
be inferred that North Korea has implemented policies to stimulate economic growth and
development.

e) After the fall of the Soviet Union, Cuba lost its main supporter, which prompted the country to
make several decisions. One of these decisions was to open up to foreign investment and
promote tourism as a means to generate foreign currency. This shift toward a more open
approach aimed to compensate for the loss of economic support from the Soviet Union.

f) Cuba relied on tourism as a significant source of foreign currency. By attracting tourists from
around the world, Cuba aimed to boost its economy and generate revenue.
The Global Times

Promoting Stability and Modernization: The Resilience of Socialist Systems

In the aftermath of the Cold War, the dismantling of the Soviet bloc led to a prolonged
process of change. Not all countries that emerged from this period achieved stability,
and some have managed to maintain their socialist systems of governance. However,
these remaining socialist regimes have faced relentless criticism from Western leaders,
who blame them for economic, political, and social woes.

China, Cuba, Vietnam, and North Korea have been at the forefront of this ongoing
debate. While the socialist governments have shown some flexibility in their policies
towards both internal and external opposition, Western governments, particularly the
United States and England, continue to denounce them as enemies of democracy,
freedom of expression, and free markets.

China, with its vast population and economic potential, has been a focal point of
attention. The Chinese government initially resisted calls for greater freedoms and
reforms from intellectuals and the younger generation, employing forceful means to
maintain control. Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution in 1966 sought to eradicate any
expression of bourgeois culture, including arts, fashion, literature, and films, which were
viewed as symbols of Western decadence. Uniformity became the norm, with everyone
dressing and behaving in a similar fashion.

Over time, Chinese leaders suppressed expressions they deemed reflective of capitalist
systems. However, as economic development slowed and pressure from Western
governments mounted, student protests and other movements, such as the one in
Tiananmen Square, became increasingly evident. In response, the Chinese government
intervened to pursue modernization, unity, and order. This involved rapid economic
growth within a socialist market economy, while maintaining the political monopoly of
the Communist Party.

Reforms became necessary, resulting in periodic government crackdowns on dissent.

The Chinese people not only sought greater freedom but also desired increased global
engagement. China gradually opened up to the world while maintaining a repressive
stance against dissent. Trade between China and the United States has remained active,
with the Chinese government allowing private entrepreneurs, both domestic and foreign,
to invest in the country. Mixed-state enterprises, with participation from foreign capital,
have also been established. Moreover, China has forged trade agreements with
countries like Mexico.

The United States has designated China as its strategic competitor, while Taiwan,
claimed by China, receives American protection. China has also engaged in trade with
Thailand, Singapore, and Japan. The economic reforms implemented by the Chinese
government have yielded positive results. Deng Xiaoping, the leader of the reform,
prioritized outcomes that would benefit the Chinese people, irrespective of whether they
aligned with capitalist, socialist, Marxist, or Maoist principles. His famous saying, "It
doesn't matter if the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice," epitomized his
pragmatic approach.

Vietnam, on the other hand, faced numerous obstacles in achieving significant

economic growth. The costs of war, population decline, and underdeveloped industry
have hampered the region's economic takeoff. The agricultural sector, the backbone of
Vietnam's economy, suffered severe damage from bombings and chemical attacks
during the armed conflict, rendering cultivation impossible. Many families were torn
apart, and countless individuals were left disabled. Vietnam also faced invasions from
Cambodia and a Chinese assault. The dissolution of the Soviet Union further
exacerbated the country's plight by removing its primary support.

In 1986, the Vietnamese Communist Congress introduced Doimoi, an economic and

modernization program. Doimoi aimed to open up the economy, attract investment, and
promote industrialization. Vietnam transitioned from a centrally planned system to a
mixed economy, with significant participation from both the public and private sectors.
Despite periods of famine, Vietnam became one of the world's leading rice producers.
Its GDP growth remained around 8% from 1992 to 199