China's Economy & Business Today

In 2006 the GDP of the Chinese Economy was 20.9 trillion Yuan or 2.7 trillion USD. This was a growth of 10.7% on 2006. The growth was 25% higher than forecast. Inflation in China was 1.5% in 2006 against 1.8% in 2005. Forecasts for 2007 vary with the conservative Peoples Bank of China forecasting a growth of 10.7% and international analysts projecting a growth of 12- 14%. Many commentators feel that a growth of more 11% will create significant inflationary pressures. Since July 2005 the Yuan has gained approximately 6.7% against the US$ on Foireign Exchange markets. In purchasing power terms China is the second most powerful state in the world.

Industry In China

The main industries in China are iron steel coal, machine manufacture, armaments, textiles and light industrial goods - all of which are major state industries. Other significant industries include clothes, , chemicals, cement, footwear, toys, food processing consumer electronics telecommunications, and information technolgy. Of these electronics and machinery are the largest contibution to China's exports. The Automobile and petrochemical industry are also rapidly developing industries.

Agriculture In China

China is the biggest producer of agricultural products in the world. Just over 15% of the land is suitable for agricultural production. Around 300 million people wotk on this farmland. The main products are rice, wheat potatoes, tea, sorghum, peanuts, millet, barley and pork.. China is one of the worlds leading producers of all the products.Other important products include cottons and other fibres, fish, fruit and oilseed.. There is a vibrant meat trade most of which is exported to Hong Kong.

British Investment Opportunities In China

Current British investment in China is concentrated in the fields of retail, energy, telecommunications, construction- the , establiushment of infrastucture and financial services. The UK's leading exports to China are components for electronic and mechanical equpment, Precision instruments - medical, optical, technical and photographic, communications and Information technology , pharmaceuticals, metals, ores plastics and chemicals.

Expertise Needed

China currently needs expertise in energy, water chemicals, healthcare. ICT construction, automotives and aerospace.

The Chinese Language And Learning To Speak it

The official language of China is Mandarin. Visitors who make the effort to speak the Chinese language are respected. Learning to speak the Chinese language is challenging but very rewarding.

Beijing City Guide

Beijing overview, sightseeing and attractions, restaurants, nightlife, apartment and hotel accommodations, Childrens Beijing, Public transport in Beijing, weather and average climate conditions in Beijing, 2008 Olypmic Games Links Sleeping Buddha,Temple,Heaven,Forbidden City,Palace Museum,Tiananmem Square

Beijing Airport Travel Guide

Airlines flying to and from Beijing, Beijing Flight Arrivals and Departures Travelling to and from Beijing Capital International Airport to Beijing

Beijing Consular & Visa Information

China National Country Profile

including population, religion, history, economic history, economy today, business opportunities, language, Confucius, The Great Wall of China & Consulate and Visa Information

China National Tourist Board Office

China History

In 221 BC the first state of China was set up by the QIN Dynasty. The position of 'Emperor' was established and the Chinese languaged was defined. The Dynasty collasped after 15 years after its people rebelled against its authortarian style. It was suceeded by the Han Dynasty which ruled for over 400 years - during which time it increased China's terroritry into neighbouring countries including Korea, Mongolia and Vietnam. It also traded with Roman empire. When the Dynasty collasped in 220AD the China fractured into three Kingdoms until it was reunited under the Sui Dynasty in 580. The Sui Dynasty reign lasted to 614 when it disintergrated as a result its war with Goguryeo.

For the next seven centuries China was ruled by the Tang and Song dynasties. It became one of the most forward civilisations of the world in art literature and technology. The power of the Song Dynasty faded and was gradually replaced in 1271 by the Mongol led Yuan Dynasty who ruled until 1368 when a peasant Zhu Yuanzchang evicted the Mongols and established the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty survived until 1644 before being defeated by China's last dynasty the Qing Dynasty which ruled until 1912. This dynasty tried to suppress the long - standing Han Chinese culture and though hostile to the Imperialistic attitudes of European countries it increased Chinese terroritry in Cental Asia.

In 1894 the Chinese State of Korea declared its independence from China leading to war with Japan and the additional loss of Taiwan. In 1898 the then Emperor Guangxu had proposed that the the country adopt a constitutional monarchy - but his plan was rejected by Empress Dowager Cixi who placed him under house arrest. In November 1908 the Emperor (still under house arrest) died a day before the ailing Empress.

In this first decade of the 20th century civil unrest had spread across China and the people constantly demanded for the end of the Emperor /Dynasty rule which has dominated China for 2,000 years.

The Emperor's two year old nephew, Puyi, who had been nominated by the Empress before her death as the heir to the throne became China's new and last Emperor. . Guangxu former consort became Empress Dowager Longyu until she abdicated in 1912.

Republic of China

The Republic of China was established on New Years Day 1912 by the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) and it leader Sun Yat-Sen was declared as the country's first President on a provisional basis. He was ousted by Yuan Shikai a former General for the Qing Dynasty who had supported the call for revolution. He declared himself the countrys new President before trying to determine himself as an Emperor of a new dynasty - but died shortly afterwards without consolidating his power base.

For several years China was internationally recognised as a independent state- but its power base was limited to Beijing. whilst individual leaders in the rural areas ruled their own refions. In the latter part pf the 1920s, the Kuomintang, led by Chiang Kai-shek, suceeded in reuniting the country on the basis that though it was the sole governing authority it would become a modern democraric state as had been the intention of its first president.

From 1937, until the end of WW2, the ruling Communists and the Nationalists united to fight the Japanese. This unity ceased and the parties became involved in the Chinese Civil War which was won in 1947 by the Communists.

Two Chinese Republics: Peoples Republic Of China & The Republic Of China.

On October 1st 1949 the Communist Party of China, under Chaiman Mao Zedong, established the People's Republic of China which its forces controlled. The defeated Nationalist Government fled with its miltary supporters to the Island of Taiwan and declared the Island as the seat of the Republic of China.

The Communist Authorities on the mainland tried unsuccesfully to capture Taiwan for nearly a year but stopped in 1950. However as no peace agreement has ever been made theoretically the two countries remain at war until this day.

Following the death of Chairman Mao in 1976 and the reforms undertaken in the late 70s the Chinese Communist Party has becoming increasingly aware of it role on the world stage.

China International Status

China is an active member of several economic councils including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum and the Asian Development Bank. It is also a member of the World Trade Organisation and a full time member of the United National Security Council. In respect of the latter it has at times forced the current Bush administration to ameriolate its antagonistic attitude to states with whom it has issues.

Internal Politics

The Chinese Goverment still excercises absolute control over the nations politics. It regards political opponents as a threat to the country's stability - a view seemingly more widely held by its critics in the West in recent years! - and it is under constant pressure to relax its control of the press and media. However, the relaxation of foreign travel restrictions for its nationals in 2005 is an indication that it will in its own time become more liberal.

China Population

The population of China is estimated to be 1.30 billion. The Capital is Beijing with a population of 12 million. The offical national language is Mandarin. The ethnic make is 92% Han Chineese with the remainder of the population made up of 55 ethnic groups.

Religions In China

There is no official religion in China. Five religions are recognised by the state: Buddhism, Daoism, Islam and Catholic and Protestant Christianity.

China Political Structure

The Chinese Communist Party are the sole political party. Its powerbase is made up of a nine person Standing Committee (similar to a cabinet) which is led by the Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party.

There is also a National Peoples Congress which is a semi elected legislative authority that meets annually. It follows the guidelines of the ruling communist party.

The policies and legisation of the above are underpinned the by the Chinese Military. Local politics are managed by directly elected town or village leaders.

China Currency

The official unit of currency in China is Yuan ( Renminbi). In Beijing USD are readily accepted.

China Economic History

After the Chinese Civil War in 1949 China was governed by the Communist Party of China from Oct 1st. The country was renamed the People's Republic Of China. The country was ruled by Chairman Mao Zedong (sometimes refered to as as 'Mao Tse-Tung' who was a both politically a Marxist and a soldier. He ruled China until his death in 1976.

During his time in power he promoted his political philosophy of estabishing a prosperous and socially stable china through several programmes including the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. In economic terms these programmes were costly and compounded by detoriating relations between China and the rest of the World.

Following the death of Mao, Hua Guofeng became the leader of the Communist Party. Though he was known on the international stage his radical economic policies were supported by the Chinese Military and he was empowered to purge those who he felt had manipulated the former cultural revolution (famously the Gang of Four) for their own poltical power in the post Mao era.

The new Communist Party leadership embarked on a serious of economic reforms that were to strengthen the country's economy and give it influence in the world generally. The reforms initially included making the countries state controlled indistries leaner and more productive but were widen to allow private companies to function within in China provided they adhered to the the Chinese Governments guidelines. In the last decade China has significantly extended this brief to to allow inward investment by foreign companies. hese reforms saw China's gross domestic product grow at annual rate of approximately 9% growth for 26 years. This is compared with a GDP growth of 6.9% in India, 4.1% in the EU and 1.4 in the US.

Currently the Chinese Government are reinvesting some the countries wealth in the rural industrial areas in North East and Western China, where many state owned industries exist but need capital investment to assure their viabilty. This policy is intended to address the current imbalance in the income of employees in these areas who earn far less than their counterparts in areas like South East China which are better developed economically.

The Great Wall Of China

The present Great Wall of China is not as many people believe the original wall. Between the 5th century BC and the 17th century AD there were several stone and earth walls built in the northern regions of the Chinese Empire by succesive dynasties to repel invaders.

The first fortifications were built between the 5th Century BC and 221 BC by three warring states who wanted to replace the former Zhou's Dynasty. Most of these fortifications comprised of earth and gravel sandwiched between largely wooden frames.

When the Qin Dynasty established a unified China in 221BC he destroyed the original fortifications which were now within the borders of the new Chinese State. At the same time he commisioned a new wall on the Northern borders of the new China state to protect his empire from invasion from the Xiongnu people to the north. The new wall was built stone from the nearby mountains. In the lowlands it was madeout of compacted earth. It was built further north of the the existing wall. Its length is unknown and very little of it still remains due to erosion.

In the mid 15th century the Ming Dynasty fought several battles with the Mongols who attacked them from northern China. To protect their terroritry they built several walls along their borders with Mongolia. These walls were built from stone and brick and often repaired reinforced in areas prone to attack. The strongest and most durable examples can be found along the wall to the north of Beijing.

After the defeat of the Ming Dynasty in 1644. its succesors the Qing Dynasty extended China's borders outwards and the purpose of the wall became redundant. Consequently it was neither extended nor repaired.

The original name of the wall translated from traditional Chinese characters was 'the long city wall. It is the worlds longest man made structure arcing along the southern Mongolian border from the Shanhai Pass in Eastern China to Lop Nur in the west. Its overall length is 6,352 KM or 3,948 miles.

Confucius

The thoughts of Confucius (551 - 479BC) have influenced Chinese Culture since the 2nd century AD when they were recognised by the Han Dynasty.

His philosophies advocated that individuals and rulers live by a moral code to ensure that they acted responsibly and with sincerity. He believed that these principals strengthened relationships and underpinned a just society. Today there are several temples in China dedicated to him.