July 1977: Deng makes his first appearance after the death of Mao Zedong. He is named deputy prime minister, his highest government post.
December 1978: Communist Party adopts Deng's program of "reform and opening up to the outside world". This marks the start of China's transformation from a planned to a market oriented economy.
Winter 1978-1979: Political activists post essays urging democracy on a wall in Beijing.
January 1979: China and the US establish diplomatic relations. Deng visits the US.
August 1980: Shenzhen designated China's first special economic zone to be nation's testing grounds for economic reforms.
November 1980: Gang of Four, scapegoat for the chaotic 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution, tried and sentenced in nationally televised court proceedings. Mao's wife, Jiang Qing, is sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment.
October 1984: Communist Party announces economic reforms, including plans to lift government price subsidies and to relax party control over enterprises.
September 1986: China's first stock market opens in Shanghai.
December 1986: Thousands of students in Shanghai protest for democracy; demonstrations spread to Beijing.
January 1987: Communist Party leader Hu Yaobang becomes scapegoat for student protests and is forced to resign. He is succeeded by Zhao Ziyang.
October 1987: Deng steps down from all but top military post.
April 1989: Former party chief Hu Yaobang dies; Thousands of students take to the streets in Beijing and Shanghai to mourn his death.
May 1989: Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev visits Beijing.
May 1989: One million protesters fill Tiananmen Square. Two days later, martial law imposed in Beijing.
June 1989: Troops enter Beijing, firing on the crowds and clearing Tiananruen Square. Hundreds of unarmed civilians are killed. Communist Party leader Zhao Ziyang ousted for allegedly supporting the protests; Jiang Zemin becomes Deng's third handpicked successor; Deng resigns from his last official post.
January and February 1992: Deng tours southern provinces urging more bold economic reforms; his remarks restart reform measures which stalled after Tiananmen Square.
February 1994: Deng's last public appearances.
February 19th, 1997: Deng dies of respiratory failure.