The
People’s Republic of China was declared on October 1, 1949 and diplomatic
relations between the USSR and the PRC were established since October
2, 1949.
In
its area (9.6 mln. sq. km) China is the second country after Russia
and Canada and by population 1.3 bln. people) it occupies the first
place in the world.
City
Beijing is the capital of PRC. Administrative-territorial system
is formed by three levels i.e. provincial, district and regional.
There are 4 direct-controlled cities, 23 provinces, 5 autonomous
(national) regions and 2 special administrative regions (Hong Kong
and Macau). The People’s Republic of China is an unitary state where
the national minorities (8 % of population of the country) exercise
the right of limited cultural autonomy.
The
head of PRC is Hu Jintao, the President (since March 2003), Vice
President of PRC is Zeng Qinhong (since March 2003).
The
superior body of the governmental authority is the Pan-Nation Congress
of the People's Representatives
(NPC) elected for 5 years. AC NPC sessions are held once per year
(generally in March) and last 14-15 days. Between the sessions (since
March 2003) the Standing Committee of NPC (President of the Committee
is Wu Bungguo) exercising the right of laws adoption is the superior
body. The National People’s Congresses (NPC) are established up
to the district level.
The
superior body of executive authority is the PRC State Council (Government).
Wen Jiabao is the Prime Minister (since March 2003). People’s governments
act on all administrative-territorial levels.
The
superior military body of PRC is the Central Military Committee
(CMC). Hu Jintao (elected in March 2005) is the President of the
Committee.
The
Communist Party of China (CPC) consisting of about 69 mln. members
is the governing party of PRC. Hu Jintao (elected on XVI Congress
in November 2002) is the Central Committee General Secretary. Yet,
there are 8 more political parties in China which recognize the
guidance of CPC.
Economics
of China is one of the most dynamically developing in the world.
Since the beginning of reforms the annual economic growth of PRC
on an average constituted 9.4 % and volume of the gross national
product reached $ 2.26 trillion in 2005 in comparison with $ 147
bln. in 1978. The task of four-time increase of the gross domestic
product to 2020 year is set.
By
its economic weight the People’s Republic of China occupies the
sixth place in the world taking the lead over Italy and closely
approaching to France and Great Britain. Considering high rates
of economic progress of the country it should be expected that in
the nearest future PRC will join the team of four world economic
leaders (after USA, Japan and Germany).
Yuan
is a monetary unit of the country. In 1996 in PRC was declared on
convertibility of yuan for running operations in compliance with
Art. 8 of the IMF Charter.
China
has strengthened itself among the major commercial countries of
the world. In 2001 PRC jointed the World Trade Organization and
this resulted in development of foreign trade of the country. China
occupies the third place in the world in terms of external trade
(after USA and Germany). In 2005 volume of external trade constituted
$ 1.42 trillion (in comparison with $ 1.15 trillion in 2004). Progress
in external trade of PRC is directly connected with foreign investments
and with transnational corporations cooperation during the last
ten years.
Volume
of direct foreign capital investments attracted by China in 2005
constituted $ 60.3 bln. and about $ 620 bln. during all years of
reforms correspondingly.
At
present absolute index of the gross national product per capita
is about 1738 US dollars. In 2005 average income of city-dwellers
amounted to 1300.2 US dollars per year and of village-dwellers to
403.3 US dollars correspondingly.
As
of the end of 2005 monetary reserves of the Central Bank of China
constituted $ 818.9 bln.
Embassy
of the People’s Republic of China in the Russian Federation:
http://ru.china-embassy.org/rus/
Embassy
of Russia in China:
http://www.russia.org.cn/rus/
