 He was a leader in China's reform period since the late 1970s.He is widely regarded as the bold reformer who led Guangdong to come 'one step ahead' in China's reform.He served as the First Communist Party secretary of Harbin, Heilongjiang (1956–1977), the First Party Secretary of Liaoning province (1977–1980), and the First Party Secretary of Guangdong (1980–1985).