Originally published in 1983. Since Mao Zedongfs death the Chinese have been debating the future character of the country's political and economic system. The present collection of Chen Yun's writings must be read against the backdrop of the ongoing policy discussion in the 1980s. Chen has been, and remains, an advocate of economic policies that are central to this debate, and since 1978 many of his views have become state policy. In this context the publication in China of this volume of Chen's writings and speeches from 1956 to 1962 undoubtedly is designed in part to bolster Chen's point of view in policy discussions. The author cites that the implicit message of this volume, translated here in full, is that had Chen's views been heeded earlier, China would have developed rapidly and successfully

INTRODUCTION, EDITOR'S NOTE, PREFACE, 1. NEW ISSUES SINCE THE BASIC COMPLETION OF THE SOCIALIST TRANSFORMATION (September 1956), 2. METHODS OF SOLVING THE TENSIONS IN SUPPLIES OF PORK AND VEGETABLES (September 1956), 3. SPEECH AT THE ENLARGED MINISTERIAL AFFAIRS CONFERENCE (November 1956), 4. MANAGE COMMERCIAL WORK WELL (November 1956), 5. THE SCALE OF CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE COMPATIBLE WITH NATIONAL STRENGTH (January 1957), 6. RESPONSES TO A XINHUA CORRESPONDENTS QUESTIONS ON PROBLEMS OF MARKET PRICES OF COMMODITIES (April 1957), 7. WE MUST SOLVE THE VEGETABLE SUPPLY PROBLEM WELL (July 1957), 8. PAY ATTENTION TO GRAIN WORK (September 1957), 9. PROBLEMS WE MUST PAY ATTENTION TO AFTER THE REFORM OF THE SYSTEM (September 1957), 10. REGULATION ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (November 1957), 11. REGULATION ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE COMMERCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (November 1957) 12. SEVERAL MAJOR ISSUES IN CURRENT CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION WORK (March 1959), 13. A LETTER TO COMRADES IN THE CENTRAL FINANCE AND ECONOMICS SMALL GROUP (April 1959), 14. THE PROBLEM OF MAKING PRACTICABLE THE STEEL TARGET (May 1959), 15. A LETTER TO COMRADE MAO ZEDONG CONCERNING PROBLEMS IN THE STEEL TARGET (May 1959), 16. SPEED UP DEVELOPMENT OF THE NITROGENOUS CHEMICAL FERTILIZER INDUSTRY (May 1961), 17. MANAGE FOREIGN TRADE WORK WELL (May 1961), 18. AN IMPORTANT WORK THAT RELATES TO THE OVERALL SITUATION (May 1961), 19. AN INVESTIGATION OF RURAL QINGPU [COUNTY] (August 1961), 20. TALK AT THE FORUM ON COAL WORK (October 1961), 21. HOW WE CAN ACHIEVE A SOMEWHAT MORE COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING (February 1962), 22. THE CURRENT FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION AND SOME METHODS FOR OVERCOMING DIFFICULTIES (February 1962), 23. TALK AT A MEETING OF THE CENTRAL FINANCE AND ECONOMICS SMALL GROUP (March 1962), ABOUT THE EDITORS