China

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Main sectors of industry

China is the most populated country in the world and one of the largest producers and consumers of agricultural produce. In 2008, China was the leading global producer of cereals (15%), corn (20%), rice (30%) and cotton (25%). China also held 53% of the world pig livestock and agriculture contributed to 12.5% of the GDP. Approximately half the Chinese labor force is employed in agriculture, although only 15% of the Chinese soil (about 1.2 M km ²) is arable. 

China has significant coal reserves (the country's primary energy source), which account for two-thirds of the total primary energy consumption. It is the world leader in the production of certain ores (phosphate and titanium) and hydroelectric energy. It is the sixth biggest oil producer in the world with 3.8 million barrels.

The industry and the construction sectors contribute approximately half of China's GDP. China has become one of the preferred destinations for the relocation of global manufacturing units because of a cheap labor market, even though the cost of labor has increased since 2008. The Government sector still contributes approximately 40% to the GDP. More than half of the Chinese exports are made by companies with foreign capital. Their share in the sector's added-value varies according to the sector: more than 60% for electronics and at less than 20% for the majority of producer goods. In sectors with considerable amounts of foreign share capital companies (higher than 40%), exports account for more than 90% of their production. Economic emergence coincided mainly with the development of an export orientated competitive manufacturing sector.

The services sector has not progressed, encumbered by public monopolies and restrictive regulations. The  tertiary sector's share has remained at nearly a third of the GDP in the last 15 years.

Indicator of economic freedom

Score:

53.2/100

Position:

mostly unfree

World Rank:

132 out of 179

Regional Rank:

28 out of 42

Distribution of Economic freedom in the world
Source: 2008 Index of Economic freedom, Heritage Foundation

Main partner countries

Source: Comtrade

Main products

Source: Comtrade

Political outline

Executive Power

The Chinese executive is supervised by a collegial body equipped with important powers, the National Business Council (CAE), under which are placed the Government commissions, ministries and certain organizations which have rank of a ministry.
According to the Constitution, the CAE is "the Supreme Administrative Body" of the Chinese Government, and even if the majority of important measures are decided by the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party. The CAE thus plays an important role in the economic domain. The prime minister (Wen Jiabao) is the chief and heads the government, assisted by 4 Deputy Prime Ministers. The CAE also includes 5 National advisers, who, just like the Deputy Prime Ministers, have jurisdiction over several Ministries or Commissions of ministerial rank. The Secretary General of the government also belongs to the CAE.

Legislative Power

The legislature is mono cameral, composed of a National Popular Assembly (ANP), "Body of supreme power of the Government". In reality, made up of approximately 3000 designated deputies elected every five years by indirect vote by the local bodies and meeting only once per annum in congress in plenary session, it has become, during the eighties, a " simple case of resonance" of the local or sectional interests. Deputies are indeed the representatives of 23 provinces, the 5 areas and the 4 autonomous municipalities.

APN comprises a delegation of the People's Liberation Army. The Standing Committee of the National People's Assembly (CPAPN) is appointed by the Political Bureau of the Central committee of the Party. It sits instead of the APN during its recess and exercises all its powers. It is composed of a president, fifteen vice-presidents and 176 permanent members. The CPAPN sits regularly, but it is the Bureau of the APN which exerts daily the functions of the APN.

Eligibility is controlled by the PCC which also has a right to supervise the appointment of the executives and the senior officials of different administrative units.

Main political parties

The one and only political party in the country is CCP (Chinese Communist Party). Though there are eight other registered small parties but all of them are controlled by CCP.

Current political leaders

President: HU Jintao (since March 2003) - CCP
prime Minister: XI Jinping (since March 2008) - CCP

Next election dates

President: March 2013

Indicator of freedom of the press

World Rank:

167/173

Evolution:

4 places down compared to 2007

Source: Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2007, Reporters Without Borders

Indicator of political freedom

Ranking:

Not Free

Political freedom:

7/7

Civil liberties:

6/7