China to mark 30 years of reforms with grand celebration

Special report:

30 Years of Reform Opening Up

BEIJING, Dec. 18 (Chinese media) -- China will hold a grand

ceremony on Thursday to mark the 30th anniversary of its reform and opening-up

dive, which has turned the once poverty-stricken country into one of the world

largest economies.

The celebration, which is expected to draw top

Chinese leaders, is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at the Great Hall of the

People in the heart of Beijing.

China's economic reforms started 30 years ago after a

10-year-long cultural revolution (1966-1976), which left the country on the

verge of economic breakdown.

The decision to open up the once secluded country and

reform its moribund economy was made at the third plenary session of the 11th

Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, which started on Dec. 18,

1978. The date was commonly regarded as a watershed in China's development.

The celebration will be broadcast in Chinese,

English, Spanish and French through the China Central Television (CCTV), the

China National Radio and the China Radio International.

It will also be shown live via the Internet at

www.people.com.cn, www.Chinese medianet.com, and www.cctv.com.