History
With almost 4,000 years of recorded history, China is one of the world’s most ancient civilizations.

Economy
China’s Economy became a mixed economy after 1978 when the economic reform began. Since then, by utilizing a series of 5 year plans created to tackle a number of economic problems as they arose, the standard of living in China has greatly improved. It is forecasted that by 2030 the Gross National Production of China will be equal to that of the United States.

Agriculture
Because of China’s huge population and landmass, it is one of the world’s foremost agricultural powers. Much of China’s farmlands is suitable for growing many different types of crops, and in the past few years an increased focus has been placed on animal husbandry and mariculture, marine agriculture. China’s chief agricultural products include: Crops–rice, wheat, sweet potatoes, gaoliang (Chinese sorghum), millet, corn (maize), cotton, tobacco, sugarcane, potatoes, soybeans, barley, peanuts, tea. Livestock–cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep.

Industry and Construction
China’s production of all major industrial items have increased significantly since 1978. One of the most notable increases in China’s industrial output is technology. A focus on technological manufacturing coupled with increased production of raw materials to meet a growing need in China is one of the contributing factors in the success of Chinese economic reform. Facing the 21st century, China will quicken its steps in restructuring industry and establishing its new-type industrial system as fast as it can to suit the development of socialist market economy.

Foreign Economic Relations
Foreign investment in China has increased over $13 billion USD since 1999. During these years rapid growth was registered in foreign trade, and the import of energy and raw materials including oil, steel, and aluminum increased substantially. A number of bilateral agreements with various neighboring states and major foreign powers including the EU, US, and Japan were signed, increasing the ease of trade with foreign nations.

Education, Science and Technology, Culture
Education
In China, the citizen’s right to education is guaranteed, and a nine year education is mandatory for all children. The literacy rate is over 95% for children and middle aged persons. China also supports a foreign studies program with roughly 700,000 students currently abroad or recently returned.

Science and Technology
The ongoing research and development of science and technology is a major Chinese goal. The Chinese government believes that science and technology are important gateways into the future, and so has put scientific study into the forefront of its agenda.

Culture
China is the most populous country in the world, containing about one-fifth of the world’s total population. Such vast numbers of people in one country results in great diversity. Many different ethnic groups, languages and religions exist throughout the country. The rich culture of China is seen throughout the world.

China has begun the undertaking of a number of cultural projects in recent years. Among them are the construction of a National Grand Theater, the National Museum, as well as the repair of the Forbidden City and the Potala Palace. In addition, China is number three, globally, in terms of concentration of cultural sights, with a total of 29 official locations of cultural importance including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and Jiuzhaigou Valley. Many films, books, plays, newspapers, and magazines are all produced in China every year as well.

Society
Population
China is the most populous country on earth, with over 1.3 billion citizens. This is over 1/5 of the world’s total population. Due to China’s family planning policies, the natural population growth has been declining.

Ethnic Groups Spoken and Written Language
China has a stunning amount of different ethnic groups with independent dialects and written languages. Some ethnic groups number in the millions (the Han number 1.2 billion), while many, such as the Orogen, Yugar and Ewoks comprise just a few thousand individuals.

 

Religious Belief
During the Cultural Revolution, religion was actively suppressed in China. In 1978 during the time of reformation, religion was allowed to return to China in some degree. There are more than 100,000,000 religious individuals in China, which, by elimination, leaves 1.2 Billion Chinese as non-religious. However, religious freedom is protected under the Chinese constitution.

State and Political Parties
State Organs
The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) stipulates that the country’s central state organs comprise six components: the National People’s Congress (NPC), the Presidency of the PRC, the State Council, the Central Military Commission, theSupreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate.

The five organs are the Presidency of the PRC, the State Council, the Central Military Commission, the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate are formed by the NPC, and are responsible to the NPC and its Standing Committee.

Currently, there are 34 provincial-level administrative areas in China and four municipalities directly under the Central Government, 23 provinces, five autonomous regions and two special administrative regions, which are the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region.

The Communist Party of China
The CPC, or the CCP, was founded in 1921 and became the dominant political party of China in 1949. The system of government is complex, but basically focuses on a governing council of 300 who are responsible for making laws that support the will of the Chinese people. Economic reforms have taken place in the party in the recent past to encourage business in a more capitalist way.