Deng Xiaoping, a 20th century Chinese revolutionary leader and statesman, died on February 20th, 1997 at the age of 92. He was the principal architect of China's modernization and reform, having assumed a range of senior leadership roles throughout his lifetime. Xiaoping began his revolutionary career in the early 1920s, joining the Communist Party of China (CCP) and participating in the Long March. He became a key figure in the People's Republic of China (PRC) after 1949, implementing a series of reform efforts designed to modernize China's economy, including opening up to foreign investment, introducing market-oriented reforms, and allowing for economic competition. The force of his leadership resulted in the transformation of China into one of the world's major economic powers, expanding its global diplomatic presence and its influence in the international community. His policies continue to have far-reaching effects, and his legacy will live on for generations to come.