Despre CHINA

Former US Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan predicts in his memoirs that the world's economic fate depends on China and its market economic development between now and 2030. He also praised China for creating "a huge change in the world economy" after shifting toward a market economy.

Napoleon Bonaparte said 'China - there lies a sleeping giant. Let him sleep, for when he wakes he will move the world." Indeed the sleeping giant has woken. As we enter the 21st century, China widens its doors to the rest of the world, with its recent acceptance into the World Trade Organisation and as host to the 2008 Olympic Games. The Middle Kingdom today is the largest market in the world. The economy and market of China are developing very fast and changing rapidly. A part of that market can truly be yours with the right advice and assistance. 

 Capital: Beijing

 Area: 9,956,960 sq km (UK:244,100 sq km), 40.8 times the size of the UK

 Population: 1.33 billion (May 2008), one-fifth of the world's population 

Major language: Mandarin Chinese

 The Basic Facts about China:

• China is the world's biggest market with more than 1.3 billion consumers (3.3% are millionaires in 2007).
• In 2007, China has 18,000 billionaires (rank 2nd in the world and behind USA).
• China also has one of the world's fastest growths of GDP.
• China is the most attractive destination for foreign investment, according to a survey conducted by leading global professional services firm Ernst & Young in July 2007.
  
• China is the biggest recipient of Foreign Direct Invesetment (FDI) in the World.
• China had overtaken the UK, France & Germany as the world's 3rd largest economy by the end of 2007.
• China overtook the UK as the world's second-biggest destination for venture capital investments in 2006.
• China overtook the United States to become the world's second largest exporter in 2007.
• China's foreign exchange reserve had approached 1.4 trillion US dollars by the end of July 2007, ranking it first in the world.
• China is the world's biggest furniture exporter.
• China is the 3rd largest investor in Africa in 2007.
• Labour costs in China are about one tenth those in the UK.
• China is producing 2 million graduates a year including 270,000 in science and engineering.
• There are more than 4,400 joint ventures involving UK companies and Chinese partners, and each year an additional 400 new joint ventures are being entered into.
• The world's largest user of mobile phones, steel, copper, cement, cotton, TV sets, cotton fabric, the internet and PCs, etc.
• China is the largest oil consumer after the US, and the world's biggest producer and consumer of coal. The country spends billions of dollars in pursuit of foreign energy supplies. There has been a massive investment in hydro-power, including the $25bn Three Gorges Dam project.
• China became the world's largest gold producer in 2008.
• It is estimated that over 300 million Chinese people currently speak English. And in twenty years time the number of English speakers in China is likely to exceed the number of speakers of English as a first language in the all of the rest of the world.
• China is the biggest recipient of foreign direct investment in the world.
• 25 per cent of the world's washing machines are produced in China.
• 30 per cent of the world's television sets.
• 40 per cent of the world's microwaves.
• 50 per cent of the world's cameras.
• 50 per cent of the world's shoes.
• 70 per cent of the world's photocopiers.
• 60 per cent of the world's toys.
  

 GDP - real growth rate: 10.4%(2nd quarter 2008), 10.6%(1st quarter, 2008), 11.9% (2007), 10.7% (2006) , 9.9% (2005) 

Main exports: Manufactured goods, including textiles, garments, electronics and arms.

 Currency: yuan (CNY) or Renminbi (RMB)

 Exchange rates: yuan per US dollar - 6.98 (May 2008), 7.20 (2007), 7.90 (2006), 8.10 (2005), 8.26 (2003)

 International dialling code: 0086

 Major religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Taoism