Communist China has not been a "free country", it has (had?) several free trade zones (FTZs) which are special economic zones where goods may be imported, handled, manufactured and exported without direct intervention from customs. Thus there has been very very limited government and regulation in these FTZs. With minimal government there, the FTZs enabled them to succeed. Everywhere else in China there was (is?) stagnation and the only way out was to move into these FTZs as a citizen to get ahead.