Some thirty years after reforming and opening its doors to the world, China’s economy has undergone staggering growth. The growth of China’s nominal GDP is 10% higher than that of the world. Its economy is the third largest globally (placing behind only the United States and Germany). China has the largest supply of foreign currencies.
It was during the first decade of the 21st century that China found itself at a socioeconomic turning point. While its rapid development presented China many opportunities, it also gave rise to many potential socioeconomic problems. Unless it settles these problems properly, China will fall victim to a crisis and its socioeconomic development will be hampered.
The book focuses on analyzing the following significant problems:
Chapter 1: The world, China, and its surrounding region during the transition from the 20th to 21st century. This chapter describes the global situation (scientific achievements, political instability and security holes, global issues that aggravate instability and hamper forecasting); regional situation (overall status, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia); China’s situation at the onset of the 21st century and its objectives.
Chapter 2: Significant issues. Information on the notion of “The three representatives” and on a dominant party (the notion of “The three representatives” and how it relates to the creation of the Party); Scientific progress and changes to the development model (scientific progress, scientific progress and changes to the development model); new theories in economics, social studies, culture, and foreign relations (economics – ownership issues, social studies – socialism, culture – harmonious culture, foreign relations – a harmonious world).
Chapter 3: Socioeconomic development issues. This chapter analyzes changes to economic development methods (the importance of these methods, how changes are to be done, and issues relating to changing such methods). This chapter also discusses how to cope with the global economic crisis (the impact of the global economic crisis on China’s economy; measures to cope with the global economic crisis); poverty gap reduction (how the rich and the poor in China are segregated; a pilot area for mixed rural and urban development in Trung Khanh (reasons for such pilot areas and related policies).
Chapter 4: Key political issues. This chapter provides information on administrative reforms (building a “serving government”, a super ministry, and testing out new administrative procedures in Tham Quyen); corruption and anti-corruption (corruption in China, anti-corruption measures in China); improving and revising the Party’s leadership methods (“three pillars of power” in China’s Party’s new phase, lessons learnt and issues during China’s Party’s rule).
Chapter 5: Foreign relations issues. This chapter contains information on China – United States relations (some general characteristics, remaining and emerging issues); the ASEAN – China free trade zone (purpose of creating said zone), progress on ACFTA, initial results, issues of note after ACFTA is completed); cultural diplomacy (China’s cultural diplomacy and soft power).
Pham Vinh Ha
