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Modernization under Deng Xiaoping, 1977-93 The demis e o f th e Cultura l Revolutio n marke d th e en d o f a period o f relativ e isolation, bot h politica l an d economic , fo r China . Mao' s designate d successo r was Hua Guofeng , wh o was viewed a s a conciliatory figure, capabl e o f bringin g together th e faction s tha t ha d polarize d i n th e latte r year s o f th e Cultura l Revolution (Short , 1982) . He reactivate d a number o f economic policies , mos t notably th e Fou r Modernization s Programme , firs t elucidate d b y Li n Bia o i n 1959, which targete d agriculture , scienc e an d technology , defence an d industry . In th e event , Hua' s tenur e o f powe r prove d t o b e jus t a brie f interregnu m and i n 197 8 Den g Xiaopin g too k contro l a s th e paramoun t leade r o f Chin a and instigate d economi c reforms . Th e ne w direction s i n polic y were booste d by rapprochement wit h th e USA . The exchang e o f ambassadors was announce d on 1 6 December 1978 , and shord y afterwards, Den g visited th e USA . Accordin g to Phili p Short , a journalist statione d i n Beijin g a t tha t time , Deng' s visi t triggered a n upsurg e o f interes t i n th e USA : As though a t the turn of a giant switch, the Chinese press, which a few months earlier had been depicting American life in terms of alcoholism and divorce , strikes and racial tension, printed stories about Disneyland, and photograph s of Deng and hi s entourage disappearing under ten-gallo n stetsons at a Texas rodeo. Through television , John Denver , Shirle y MacLaine an d th e Harle m Globetrotters made their way into Chinese homes and community centres. A documentary o n America n lif e showe d ... a weddin g part y i n a Chines e restaurant i n Ne w York, at which th e young Chines e bride , looking shyl y at her American husband , sai d she hoped relation s between th e tw o countrie s would prospe r a s he r ow n ne w Chinese-America n marriage . Fo r a countr y where, a year earlier, Deng had had t o intervene personally to authorise th e first marriage between a foreigner an d a Chinese for mor e tha n a decade, it would b e har d t o fin d a mor e emotion-charge d symbolis m fo r th e ne w attitudes being created . (Short , 1982 : 296) Education wa s perceived b y th e CC P a s playing a crucia l rol e i n th e Fou r Modernizations, a s the governmen t embrace d huma n resourc e development . 130 China' s English : A history o f English i n Chinese educatio n The objective s for educatio n were both qualitativ e and quantitative, with move s to improve academic and vocational quality being paralleled by the developmen t of mass education. Th e teachin g o f English was a particular proble m afte r th e Cultural Revolution . I t ha d re-emerge d i n th e curriculu m sporadicall y an d tentatively around th e countr y i n th e earl y 1970s , especially following Nixon' s visit, but fo r man y teachers , th e subjec t wa s too politicall y sensitiv e t o teac h a t that time . Thi s situatio n le d t o a shortag e o f qualified , practisin g Englis h Language teacher s a t th e en d o f 1976 . A recruitmen t drive , facilitate d b y th e availability o f peopl e returnin g hom e afte r displacemen t durin g th e previou s decade, resulted in those with previous English Language o r Russian Languag e teaching experienc e bein g eligibl e fo r assignmen t t o teac h English . Deng remaine d th e dominan t forc e i n Chines e...

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