The 1994 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages

       (see Ethnic divisions entry)

       Literacy:

       age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

       total population:

       78%

       male:

       87%

       female:

       68%

       Labor force:

       567.4 million

       by occupation:

       agriculture and forestry 60%, industry and commerce 25%, construction

       and mining 5%, social services 5%, other 5% (1990 est.)

      @China, Government

      Names:

       conventional long form:

       People's Republic of China

       conventional short form:

       China

       local long form:

       Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo

       local short form:

       Zhong Guo

       Abbreviation:

       PRC

       Digraph:

       CH

       Type:

       Communist state

       Capital:

       Beijing

       Administrative divisions:

       23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions*

       (zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 3 municipalities** (shi, singular

       and plural); Anhui, Beijing Shi**, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi*,

       Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu,

       Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol*, Ningxia*, Qinghai, Shaanxi,

       Shandong, Shanghai Shi**, Shanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin Shi**, Xinjiang*,

       Xizang* (Tibet), Yunnan, Zhejiang

       note:

       China considers Taiwan its 23rd province

       Independence:

       221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty 221 BC; Qing or

       Ch'ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12 February 1912; People's

       Republic established 1 October 1949)

       National holiday:

       National Day, 1 October (1949)

       Constitution:

       most recent promulgated 4 December 1982

       Legal system:

       a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely criminal law;

       rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987; new legal codes

       in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts are being made to

       improve civil, administrative, criminal, and commercial law

       Suffrage:

       18 years of age; universal

       Executive branch:

       chief of state:

       President JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993); Vice President RONG Yiren

       (since 27 March 1993); election last held 27 March 1993 (next to be

       held NA 1998); results - JIANG Zemin was nominally elected by the

       Eighth National People's Congress

       chief of state and head of government (de facto):

       DENG Xiaoping (since NA 1977)

       head of government:

       Premier LI Peng (Acting Premier since 24 November 1987, Premier since

       9 April 1988) Vice Premier ZHU Rongji (since 8 April 1991); Vice

       Premier ZOU Jiahua (since 8 April 1991); Vice Premier QIAN Qichen

       (since 29 March 1993); Vice Premier LI Lanqing (29 March 1993)

       cabinet:

       State Council; containing 28 ministers and 8 state commissions and

       appointed by the National People's Congress (March 1993)

       Legislative branch:

       unicameral

       National People's Congress:

       (Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui) elections last held March 1993 (next

       to be held March 1998); results - CCP is the only party but there are

       also independents; seats - (2,977 total) (elected at county or xian

       level)

       Judicial branch:

       Supreme People's Court

       Political parties and leaders:

       Chinese Communist Party (CCP), JIANG Zemin, general secretary of the

       Central Committee (since 24 June 1989); eight registered small parties

       controlled by CCP

       Other political or pressure groups:

       such meaningful opposition as exists consists of loose coalitions,

       usually within the party and government organization, that vary by

       issue

       Member of:

       AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,

       IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU,

       LORCS, MINURSO, NAM (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,

       UNIKOM, UN Security Council, UNTAC, UNTSO, UN Trusteeship Council,

       UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

       Diplomatic representation in US:

       chief of mission:

       Ambassador LI Daoyu

       chancery:

       2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

       telephone:

       (202) 328–2500 through 2502

       consulate(s) general:

       Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco

       US diplomatic representation:

       chief of mission:

       Ambassador J. Stapleton ROY

       embassy:

       Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, Beijing

       mailing address:

       100600, PSC 461, Box 50, Beijing or FPO AP 96521–0002

       telephone:

       [86] (1) 532–3831

       FAX:

       [86] (1) 532–3178

       consulate(s) general:

       Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang

       Flag:

       red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow

       five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of

       the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner

      @China, Economy

      Overview: Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership has been trying to move the economy from the sluggish Soviet-style centrally planned economy to a more productive and flexible economy with market elements, but still within the framework of monolithic Communist control. To this end the authorities switched to a system of household responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization, increased the authority