Four Modernizations

plural noun

1. goals of the political leadership in China after the death of Mao Zedong: modernization of agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Four Modernizations¹

Translation of Chinese sìge xìandaì-huà

Example Sentences

Deng, who had reemerged after being purged from the leadership, carried out a program called the “Four Modernizations.”

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In 1978, Deng Xiaoping formally launched a policy known as ‘Four Modernizations’, which placed a renewed focus on agriculture, industry, national defence, and science and technology.

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From the May Fourth Movement that gave birth to contemporary Chinese national consciousness to the “Four Modernizations” of Deng Xiaoping, imagined visions of a technology-infused future have always propelled China’s progress.

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Deng Xiaoping first signed on with the “Four Modernizations,” then added the “Four Cardinal Principles” and many other catchphrases, and tried to synthesize them as “One Center, Two Basic Points.”

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Since Deng Xiaoping created the Four Modernizations in 1978, China has surged from being a marginal player on the global stage to a powerhouse that has attracted $2 trillion of foreign direct investment.

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