If Deng Xiaoping was the chief architect of China's reform and opening up, his aide Gu Mu was the architect of China's special economic zones (SEZs).
The former vice-premier, who died on Friday aged 96, was in charge of establishing China's four SEZs as the mainland began to open up.
In 1979, Gu led a task force to investigate the economic potential of Guangdong and Fujian. Gu decided that more policy flexibility should be given to the two provinces, while economic incentives should be introduced in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou and Xiamen to attract foreign investment and to encourage manufactured exports. A report was then sent to the central government suggesting that the two provinces be given more leeway to diverge from the planned economy.
'Guangdong is in the vicinity of Hong Kong, and is home to a lot of overseas Chinese,' Gu was quoted as saying in a central government meeting by the Nanfang Daily. 'We should make full use of this advantage.'
On July 15 that year, the government approved Gu's suggestions, resulting in the establishment of the four SEZs.
The same year, Gu nailed down China's first loan from a foreign government on a trip to Japan, paving the way for more government loans from other countries.