China-Soviet Relations and Economic Growth

Relations with the Soviet Union played a significant role in China's economic development by 1960, although it is important to recognize that they were not the sole determining factor. The Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship signed in 1950 established a military and economic alliance between the two countries, positioning China against the West. As part of this alliance, the Soviet Union provided China with $300 million of low-interest loans to support the implementation of the First Five-Year Plan.

One of the most impactful ways in which Soviet assistance contributed to China's economic development was through the massive increase in industrial production and the collectivization of agriculture. The loans from the Soviet Union played a crucial role in funding the purchase of new machinery for peasant cooperatives and later for communes. Additionally, Soviet specialists and experts were sent to China to help with its modernization and industrialization efforts. Through technical aid, the Soviet Union supported 156 industries with 520 million roubles in loans, enabling China to establish and expand its industrial base.

However, it is important to note that the significance of Soviet assistance diminished in the 1960s as relations between China and the Soviet Union soured. With the rise of Nikita Khrushchev and his policies, including a reduced emphasis on financial and technical aid to China, the loans began to dry up, and technical aid became less accessible. As a result, China had to shift towards other modes of economic development.

Nonetheless, it can be argued that other factors played a more important role in China's economic development during this period. Mao Zedong's Land Reforms, implemented in 1950, led to the development of cooperatives and collective farming, ending private ownership of land. This resulted in increased agricultural production, as well as the confiscation of landlord estates, which provided opportunities for the redistribution of land and improved farming methods. Furthermore, the First Five-Year Plan, which aimed to modernize the country's infrastructure, particularly in railways, and increase the urban population, played a crucial role in China's economic development. The plan also exceeded targets in the production of oil, coal, and steel.

In addition to these efforts, the Great Leap Forward, which took place from 1958 to 1962, promoted the development of communes, where cooperatives joined together to pool peasant labor for both agricultural and industrial purposes. The establishment of backyard furnaces allowed for the production of steel, and peasants were employed in mining activities, further contributing to the growth of the industrial sector.

In conclusion, while relations with the Soviet Union were undoubtedly important to China's economic development by 1960, it is essential to recognize that they were not the sole determining factor. The low-interest loans, technical aid, and expertise provided by the Soviet Union fueled China's industrialization efforts and contributed to the collectivization of agriculture. However, other domestic initiatives, such as Mao's Land Reforms, the First Five-Year Plan, and the Great Leap Forward, also played significant roles in shaping China's economic development during this period.