Deng deserves most of the credit for putting China on a different trajectory. When he wanted to open up, many Old Guard leaders were opposed to it. But he was a strong-willed character. He brushed them aside and went ahead and did it. Without him, the turnaround would not have happened so fast, because he was the only one with the Long March credentials to override the doubters. A physically small man, but a giant of a leader – Deng is undoubtedly the most impressive international leader I have ever met.
