Country Info:
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China Location:
Physical. China is located in Eastern Asia, with Mongolia and Russia to the north, the North Pacific Ocean to the east, Vietnam to the south and India and Pakistan to the west. Its area is slightly smaller than the US. The country’s climate is diverse with tropical conditions in the south and sub arctic conditions toward the north. Mountainous formations and high plateaus cover the land with deserts in the west and plains, deltas and hills in the east. China’ s wide spectrum of natural resources includes coal, iron ore, petroleum, and hydropower potential.
China Geography:
Geography
Area: 3,705,386 square miles
Capital: Beijing (pop 10,836,000)
Environmental concerns: air and water pollution; water shortages; desertification; trade in endangered species; acid rain; loss of agricultural land; deforestation
Geographical features: mostly mountains; high plateaus and deserts in the west; plains, deltas and hills in the east
Climate: diverse, tropical to subarctic
China People:
People. Almost 1.3 billion people live in China. They speak numerous languages. Mandarin Chinese is the official language. Ethnically, the largest portion of the Chinese population is Han Chinese (92%). The remaining 8% includes Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Buyi, Mongol, Korean, and other national minorities. While the country is officially atheist, the four prominent religions are: Taoism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity (1-3 %).
1,298,847,624 people; Han Chinese (91.9%); remaining 8.1% Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean and other nationalities
Annual growth rate: 0.57%
Major languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages
Religions: officially atheist but Taoism; Buddhism; Islam Christianity; ancestor worship; animism exist
China Government:
Government. Although still a one party Communist state, China’s opening toward the world was dramatic following Mao’s death and the formalization of relationships with the US in 1979. Despite many problems yet to be solved, including serious human rights violations, Chinese leadership has actively moved toward modernization and its role as a major power. The leadership has embraced capitalism and opened the country to foreign investment. Hu Jintao became the president in 2003 in another peaceful transfer of power. The premier is Wen Jiabao.
Reports still indicate that human rights violations continue on a massive scale with torture being used on political prisoners. Although some religions are permitted, others are suppressed. In 2000 the Falun Gong, a meditative religion, was banned and its adherents are systematically arrested and jailed.
China is a one-party Communist state unified in 221 B.C.; People’s Republic established on October 1, 1949
President Hu Jintao is head of state and Premier Wen Jiabao is head of government
1 major political party
Suffrage: universal at 18 in village and urban elections
China Communication:
Communication and transportation
263,000,000 main telephone lines
94,000,000 Internet users (2004)
840,000 miles of highway
39,390 miles of railroad
507 airfields
11,450,000 motor vehicles
China Economy:
Economy. Foreign investment and loan assistance programs are helping China to have perhaps the highest GDP growth rates in the region. Recent predictions gave it a 9% growth rate. In the early years of Communism, collectivized agriculture and heavy industry were stressed. Now China has established trading relationships with the US and Japan and is constructing free enterprise zones. Modernization through upgrading its railway system and the construction of the world’s largest public works project, Three Gorges Dam (scheduled to be completed by 2009) along with modernization of its military is in progress. China is a force to be reckoned with, especially with its entry into the World Trade Association. Although likely to cause internal adjustments, it will strengthen its position in the world economy.
Currency: yuan
Per capita GDP: $5,000
GDP: $ 6.449 trillion
GDP growth rate: 9.1%
Inflation rate: 1.2%
Labor force: (50%) agricultural; (22%) industry; (28%) services
China More Information:
http://www.china.org.cn
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