Final answer:
The belief that economic reforms would advance socialist goals is attributed to Deng Xiaoping. He implemented market-driven policies with the long-term aim of reaching communism while maintaining the Communist Party's control.
Step-by-step explanation:
The belief that the focus on economic reforms would promote socialist goals should primarily be attributed to Deng Xiaoping. After Mao Zedong's death, Deng took leadership and initiated significant economic reforms. To increase productivity and modernize China's economy, Deng recognized the need to depart from Mao's more dogmatic approach and introduced policies that allowed some market freedom while still maintaining strong state control. Deng believed that encouraging economic productivity through incentives and allowing certain consumer freedoms, while keeping a tight grip on political power, would eventually lead to the achievement of true communism.