1980 in China

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1980 in China

In 1980, China’s leadership began to shift as the country opened up more to change and reform.

Incumbents
- Chairman of the Communist Party: Hua Guofeng
- President (head of state): Ye Jianying
- Premier: Hua Guofeng (until September), Zhao Ziyang (from September)
- Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference: Deng Xiaoping
- Vice Premier: Deng Xiaoping (until September 13), Wan Li (from September 13)

Events and developments
- May 20: Guangming Huaqiao Electronic Industry was founded, which would later become Konka Group.
- The first Shenzhen, Xiamen, and Zhuhai Special Economic Zones were established to boost economic growth.
- Important new institutions and facilities included the State Intellectual Property Office, the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, Yan’an Ershilipu Airport, Tianjin Zoo, and the World Economic Herald.

Culture
- 1980 marked notable activity in Chinese film and culture, as the country continued to develop its cinema scene.

Sport
- China participated in the 1980 Winter Olympics but did not win any medals.

Births
- November 5: Qi Jianhua, future Chinese volleyball player
- November 7: Sam Chui, Chinese-Australian aviation and travel blogger, photographer, and author

Deaths
- March 10: Zhang Fakui, nationalist general
- June 25: An Ziwen, politician
- July 3: Deng Hua, general in the People’s Liberation Army
- July 25: Wang Jian’an, military official and general
- August 1: Guan Linzheng, nationalist general
- October 10: Zhao Dan, film actor
- December 25: Gu Jiegang, folklorist, historian, and sinologist