About this user
China's importance in the world today is reflected through its role as the world's third largest economy nominally (or second largest by PPP) and a permanent member of the UN Security Council as well as being a member of several other multilateral organizations including the WTO, APEC, East Asia Summit, and Shanghai Cooperation Organization. In addition, it is a nuclear state and has the world's largest standing army with the second largest defense budget. Since the introduction of market-based economic reforms in 1978, China has become one of the world's fastest growing economies and the world's second largest exporter and the third largest importer of goods. Rapid industrialization has reduced its poverty rate from 53% in 1981 to 8% in 2001.
The PRC is the fourth most visited country in the world with 49.6 million inbound international visitors in 2006. It is a member of the WTO and is the world's third largest trading power behind the US and Germany with a total international trade of US$2.56 trillion - US$1.43 trillion in exports (#2) and US$1.13 trillion in imports (#3). Its foreign exchange reserves have reached US$1.9 trillion, making it the world's largest. It is among the world's favorite destination for FDI, attracting more than US$80 billion in 2007 alone.
List of countries by military expenditures
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#1 U.S.A US$651 billion
#2 China. US$70 billion
#3 France US$61 billion
Country Comparisons - GDP (PPP) 2008
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#1 USA $14.58 trillion (Growth 1.4%)
#2 China $7.80 trillion (Growth 9.8%)
#3 Japan $4.48 trillion (Growth 0.7%)
CIA World Factbook
"Will China take the crown?
Angus Maddison's forecast (which uses purchasing power parity) isn't built on outlandish assumptions. He assumes China's growth will slow way down year by year, and America's will average about 2.6% annually, which seems reasonable. But because China has grown so stupendously during the past decade, it should still be able to take the crown in just seven more years.
If that happens, America will close out a 125-year run as the No. 1 economy. We assumed the title in 1890 from - guess who. Britain? France? No. The world's largest economy until 1890 was China's. That's why Maddison says he expects China to "resume its natural role as the world's largest economy by 2015." That scenario makes sense." - CNNMoney.com
"When China awakes, the world will tremble." - Napoleon I of France
"China will be a Superpower, we all know that." - Senator John McCain
"Everything is bigger in China." - American Announcer
"The Super Chinese can do anything." -
ChineseSe7en
Chinese Companies:
PetroChina (world's largest company by market value)
ICBC (world's largest bank)
China Mobile (world's largest telecoms company by subscribers)
"China monthly auto sales overtake U.S. for 1st time
Updated Tue. Feb. 10 2009 6:29 AM ET
The Associated Press
SHANGHAI -- China's monthly vehicle sales surpassed those in the United States for the first time in January, moving this country closer to becoming the world's biggest auto market, data released Tuesday showed.
With its growing middle class and vast potential as a consumer market, China is vital for General Motors, Volkswagen and Toyota as they count on demand here to offset weakness in the U.S. and elsewhere. "
Famous Chinese People:
Bruce Lee
Jet Li
Donnie Yen (Ip Man)
Zhang Zilin (Miss World 2007)
Chow Yun-Fat
Jackie Chan
Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)
Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)
Jay Chou (Rapper)
S.H.E (Singers)
LARGEST CITIES ON THE PLANET
Shanghai, China 13.3 million
Mumbai (Bombay), India 12.6 million
Buenos Aires, Argentina 11.92 million
Most densely populated region in the world:
Macau
Chinese Stock Exchanges:
Shanghai Stock Exchange
Hong Kong Stock Exchange
Shenzhen Stock Exchange
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is an intergovernmental mutual-security organisation which was founded in 2001 by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Members: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
Observers: India, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan
Guest Attendances: Afghanistan, ASEAN, CIS
Largest Continents in Area
1. Asia - 44,391,162 square km
2. Africa - 30,244,049 square km
3. North America - 24,247,039 square km
4. South America - 17,821,029 square km
5. Antarctica - 14,245,000 square km
6. Europe - 10,354,636 square km
7. Australia - 7,686,884 square km
CONTINENTS (by population) 2006 est.
#1 Asia - (3,879,000,000)
#2 Africa - (877,500,000)
#3 Europe - (727,000,000)
#4 North America - (501,500,000)
#5 South America - (379,500,000)
#6 Australia/Oceania - (32,000,000)
#7 Antarctica - (0)
