What year is 1979?
1979 was a critical year for China's reform and opening up, and it was also a year full of transitions in world history. This article will sort out the major events and their impacts in 1979 from multiple dimensions such as politics, economy, and culture, combined with the hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days.
1. Major historical events in 1979

| event | time | influence |
|---|---|---|
| China and the United States formally established diplomatic relations | January 1, 1979 | Ended 30 years of hostility and opened a new chapter in Sino-US relations |
| Self-defense counterattack against Vietnam | February 17-March 16, 1979 | Defending China’s border security and reshaping the geopolitical landscape of Southeast Asia |
| Establish special economic zones | July 1979 | Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou and Xiamen became the first batch of special economic zones and opened experimental fields for reform and opening up. |
| Implementation of family planning policy | Second half of 1979 | The policy of "late marriage, late childbearing, and fewer and eugenics" began to be implemented, which has affected China's population structure for decades. |
2. Cultural and technological achievements in 1979
In 1979, there were also fruitful achievements in the field of culture and science and technology:
| field | achievement | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| literature | "Today" magazine launches | The birth of the Misty Poetry School ushered in a new wave of literature in the new era |
| movie | "Little Flower" released | Breaking the creative pattern of the Cultural Revolution and winning the 3rd Hundred Flowers Award for Best Feature Film |
| Technology | Chinese character laser phototypesetting system successfully developed | Wang Xuan's team breaks through technical difficulties and brings revolution to Chinese printing |
| sports | China returns to International Olympic Committee | Laying the foundation for participating in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics |
3. International events in 1979
From a global perspective, 1979 was equally magnificent:
| event | area | subsequent impact |
|---|---|---|
| iran islamic revolution | middle east | The Pahlavi dynasty was overthrown and Khomeini established a theocratic regime |
| Soviet invasion of Afghanistan | Central Asia | Triggered the Ten Years' War and became an important factor in the disintegration of the Soviet Union. |
| Mrs Thatcher is elected Prime Minister | United Kingdom | Opening an era of neoliberal reform and influencing global political economy |
| Three Mile Island nuclear accident | USA | The most serious commercial nuclear power plant accident, changing the global nuclear power development process |
4. Inventory of celebrities born in 1979
In 1979, many celebrities who influenced contemporary times were born:
| name | field | represents achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Jay Chou | music | The King of Chinese Pop, Created the "Chinese Style" Music Genre |
| Jack Ma | business | Founder of Alibaba Group, changing China’s e-commerce ecosystem |
| Zhang Ziyi | movie | International movie star, the first Chinese actress nominated for a Golden Globe Award |
| Yao Ming | sports | NBA stars promote the development of basketball in China |
5. Comparison of economic data in 1979
Through key economic indicators, you can intuitively feel the economic situation in 1979:
| indicator | 1979 data | 2023 data | growth multiple |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP total | 406.2 billion yuan | 126 trillion yuan | About 310 times |
| GDP per capita | 419 yuan | 89,358 yuan | About 213 times |
| foreign exchange reserves | US$840 million | $3.2 trillion | About 3800 times |
| Total import and export volume | $29.3 billion | $6.2 trillion | About 211 times |
Conclusion: Historical Echoes of 1979
As the first year of reform and opening up, 1979 has its historical significance becoming increasingly clear as time goes by. From the reshaping of the international landscape to domestic policy adjustments, from scientific and technological innovation breakthroughs to cultural and ideological emancipation, every major decision made this year has profoundly affected the development trajectory of contemporary China. Looking back at 1979, we not only see the key choices at a historical turning point, but also understand the historical logic of China's current development path.
Topics such as "Research on the History of Reform and Opening Up" and "The Evolution of Sino-US Relations" that have been hotly discussed on the Internet recently have formed interesting dialogues with the historical events of 1979. In the context of the new era, re-examining the special historical coordinate of 1979 has important implications for understanding China's development path and grasping its future direction.
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