In 2017, the Propaganda and Education Bureau of the Central Propaganda Department published a 10-poster series marking the 40th anniversary of the adoption of Deng Xiaoping's proposal to reform and open up the nation.

While lip service is paid to Deng, as well as his successors Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, the main thrust of the series focusses on Xi Jinping, who is the subject of the majority of the posters.

Titled "Implementing reform and opening up successfully created socialism with Chinese characteristics" (实行改革开放成功开创中国特色社会主义), the Deng Xiaoping quote in the right hand corner reads "Failure to adhere to socialism, without reform and opening up, without economic development, and without improving people's living standards will lead to a dead end. The basic line must be maintained for a hundred years and cannot be shaken." (不坚持社会主义，不改革开放，不发展经济，不改善人民生活，只能是死路一条。基本路线要管一百年，动摇不得).

The results following the decision of the 3rd Plenum of the 11 CCP Central Committee in mid December 1978, made up of the second generation of leaders with Deng Xiaoping at its core, to adopt Reform and Opening up, include the theoretical concept of the primary stage of socialism, following one's own course, establishing and successfully creating socialism with Chinese characteristics, and formulating Deng Xiaoping Theory.