Maoist China was once thought of as an autarky, possessing a domestic command economy that was mostly closed to the outside world. Today, scholars have largely dispelled this picture, demonstrating that Beijing actively pursued trade with the capitalist world and sought strategic economic alliances. Yet, the implications of these engagements for China's industrialization and integration into global markets remain under-explored. This roundtable brings together scholars working on China's economic history to examine the interplay between economic policy, foreign trade, and industrial development during the Maoist era (1949-1976).

The discussion will address several key questions: In what ways did industrialization in Maoist China rely on foreign technology, capital, and expertise, and how did the state acquire these resources? How did China forge and sustain trade relationships with both socialist and capitalist countries, and how did these interactions influence domestic industries, technological development, and economic strategy? To what extent did global market forces shape China's industrial policies despite its ideological commitment to self-reliance?