Eyes On.... CHINA in the Global Economy
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With its steady growth rate, China is a major influence on the global economy. It turns out the world's second largest gross domestic product (GDP)* — including, among other goods, the most coal, steel, and cement (and the most rice, pork, and apples!). China also ranks third in the global export-import trade, with dozens of trade partners in every hemisphere. And it is a leader in the effort to develop clean forms of energy. One "small" example: China is the world's biggest producer (and consumer) of solar water heaters.

Here's a quick profile of China today:

Population	1.3 billion (2009)
Government	People's Republic of China, led by the Chinese Communist Party. Chief of state, President Hu Jintao; Head of government, Premier Wen Jiabao
GDP*	$7.97 trillion
Per-capita GDP*	$6 thousand
Basis of GDP	Agriculture 11.3%, Industry 48.6%, Services 40.1%
Key Industries	Mining and ore processing; machine building; armaments; textiles and apparel; petroleum; cement; chemicals; fertilizers; consumer products (toys, electronics, etc.); food processing; transportation equipment; telecommunications equipment
Labor Force	807.3 million
Labor Force by Occupation	Agriculture 43%, Industry 25%, Services 32% (2006)
Exports	$1.44 trillion
Imports	$1.07 trillion
Key Trading Partners	USA, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Germany

* China's GDP earnings are reported here in terms of their purchasing-power parity (ppp). That's the U.S. dollar value of all the goods and services that China's GDP earnings could buy. (Note that, in China, the local price of such goods and services might be lower.)

Source: CIA: The World Factbook, October 2009. Unless otherwise noted, all data are for the year 2008.