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BEIJING, Oct. 2-- While turning 70 often signals the beginning of a person's twilight years, for the People's Republic of China (PRC) it marks a golden age full of hope and vigor. The PRC celebrated its 70th birthday on Oct. 1. China's transformation from an agricultural society isolated from the West into the world's second-largest economy open wide is nothing short of a miracle. More importantly, it has charted a new path for developing countries to modernize. Seven decades ago, the war-ravaged country started from scratch. Observers are astonished at China's large-scale modernization, its reduction of the number of people living in poverty and the sheer volume of its consumer market. Their heads have been turned not only because of the speed of the transition but also by the unique path taken to realize this great transformation. Reflecting on its past and present, and through experimentation, China has identified and will continue down the right path -- socialism with Chinese characteristics. Reform is the engine of China's miracle. There is no ready-made solution for the development issues facing China. From creating special economic zones to building free trade pilot zones, from carrying out family-based production contracts to revitalizing state-owned enterprises, China has been one of the most successful countries in piloting reforms over the past decades. Now the reform is more in-depth and more comprehensive in economic, political, cultural, social and ecological sectors. | 
