Deng Xiaoping's death marked the end of an era in contemporary Chinese politics. The first generation revolutionary leaders have gone, and the third generation leaders are genuinely in power. At the same time, economic reforms since 1978 have now reached a plateau, and a new impetus is called for to maintain the momentum of economic growth. Reform of the state enterprises is a good example of the situation.
It is therefore an appropriate time to review developments in China and discuss what needs to be done in the future. A team of experts has been gathered to complete this formidable task. They come from Australia, China, Hong Kong and the United States. Each author deals with a specific policy area, and his/her chapter will cover: (1) what has been achieved since 1978; (2) an evaluation of the policies and reforms so far with emphasis on what needs to be done in the future; (3) what the plans of Chinese leaders on further reforms and future changes are, and what the author's evaluation of such plans is; and (4) what the vision following Deng's death will be.