ON CHINA A PRIMER FOR MR. FANG’S VISIT

China is slightly larger than the U.S. Mt. Emei – Sacred Buddhist Mountian

China has 1.3 billion people (If you count the migrant population, it’s closer to 1.5 billion!) Side note: We only have about 305 million. Chongqing – City of over 33 million

China, as a civilization, has been around for over 5,000 years (Okay, actually, historians debate this claim, but one can safely say 4,000 years) Side note: We’ve been around for over 200 years. They were great years though!

China has the largest dam in the world – Three Gorges Dam Chinese civilization has also invented many things: Paper Printing Umbrella Sunglasses Wheelbarrow Paper Money Kites Stirrups Gunpowder Magnetic Compass And more…

Forbidden No More – China joined the World Trade Organization in 1995

Rising China China produces and consumes half of the world’s cement for construction [FP 2008] China uses about 1/3 of the world’s steel supply.

How rich is China? U.S.A. Gross Domestic Product ($) = 14.3 Trillion China Gross Domestic Product ($) = 4.2 Trillion [CIA World Factbook]

How quick is China growing? Since 1978 China's GDP has grown an average 9.9% a year. We’ve averaged around 3%. It is almost certain that China's GDP will be greater than that of the United States by [Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]

Why is China growing so much faster? – They sell more to us than they buy from us.

Manufacturing has come a long way in China. “If automobile ownership in China were to reach the US level of 0.77 cars per person (three cars for every four people), China would have a fleet of 1.1 billion cars in 2031-well beyond the current world fleet of 795 million.” (Lester Brown, economist)

And Growing… Burning of Coal: China = Over 800 million tons in U.S. = 574 million tons in Source: Lester Brown Coal Barge on loading up on Yangtze River shore.

#2 – Cough! A Possible Environmental Catastrophe? Global Warming & Pollution  China is home to 16 of the world's 20 most polluted cities  Water pollution affects as much as 70 percent of the country  Air pollution is blamed for the premature death of some 400,000 Chinese annually  Solid waste production is expected to more than double over the next decade, pushing China far ahead of the U.S. as the largest producer (The Economist, August 19, 2004). If current trends continue, China will be responsible for 40% of the world’s coal consumption by 2025 (New York Times Graphic)New York Times Graphic

China embraces globalization: Most signs are in Chinese & English

As President Bush once asked, “Is our children learning?” Well, how about China’s kids? Compulsory education until 9 th grade and parents pay to send their kids to public school! – except in the rural areas. And, yes, even Chinese students sleep in class! (World Cup Soccer was on the night before)

Are Chinese Students Better than U.S. Students? “[O]nly about one-tenth of China’s scientific graduates can compete internationally.” China has the largest pre- university public education system in the world. Mandatory education law: China (9 years) v. USA (13 years) Literacy rate: China (89%) v. USA (99%)

Beliefs in China “Religion is the opiate of the people” (Karl Marx) Chinese communism tried to eradicate religion, but failed.

Chifanle meiyou? (Have you eaten?) The Chinese have suffered horrible famines killing millions, instilling the belief that if it moves, you can eat it. Our guide would say that the Chinese regularly eat about 75 different vegetables (U.S. – 25)

If you go to China, your legs need to be strong. For the record, these gentlemen are just squatting in conversation and not practicing.

Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance. (Confucious)