The People’s Republic of China
Introduction
The People’s Republic of China, established in 1949, is a multi-ethnic State that emphasises the importance of equality, unity and mutual assistance among its people. This philosophy forms the fundamental basis of its political and economic development.
The country has made a significant impact on the world and is responsible for inventions such as the compass, gunpowder, the art of paper-making and block printing; inventions which have contributed immensely to the economic development of the world. Among its outstanding achievements are the Great Wall of China and the Grand Canal, which have been recognised among the world’s greatest designs and heritage sites, and have served to establish China as a leader in the field of engineering.
The Economy
The People’s Republic of China now has one of the strongest economies and is recognised among the world’s major economic powers. Since 1979, China's economy has developed at an unprecedented rate, and that momentum has held steadily to date.
Though having only seven percent of the world’s arable land, and one fifth of the world’s human population, the country has a strong agricultural sector, which is backed by its technological advances. The Chinese Government has established policies and reforms which have served to significantly boost the country’s agricultural production and subsequently its economy.
China now leads the world in its output of grain, cotton, oil plants, fruit, meat, eggs, aquatic products and vegetables.
As a socialist market economy, the primary role played by the market is that of resource allocation, while the Government continues to ‘perfect’ its macro-control system. The public sector plays the main role alongside non-public sectors to achieve common economic development. With respect to this strategic plan, the People’s Republic of China is forecast to have a complete socialist market economy in place by 2010, which will mature by 2020.
Physical Features
Lofty plateaus, large plains, rolling land, big and small basins surrounded by mountains, all add to the magnificence of the landscape of the People’s Republic of China. Located on the continent of Asia, the country has an interesting topography, and its land comprises the five basic topography types which exist in the world.
Mountains and rough terrain make up two thirds of the topography in China. While the topography has presented challenges to developments in agriculture and transportation, the resources embedded in these areas – forestry, minerals and hydropower – have contributed significantly to the economic and social advancement of the country.
Political History
Over the centuries, the Chinese people waged many heroic struggles for national independence, and democracy. After 1840, the feudal monarchic China was turned into a semi-colonial and semi-feudal country. The most significant and historical changes, however, came about in the 20th century.
In 1911, a revolution lead by Dr. Sun Yat-sen abolished the 2,000 year reign of the feudal monarchy and gave birth to the Republic of China. However, the fruits of this revolution were shortly usurped by the warlord Yuan Shikai with the support of Imperialism ideology. In 1919 however, there was a movement against both imperialism and feudalism.
The people of China continued to fight for their rights and democracy, and in 1921 the Communist Party of China was formed. After waging protracted and arduous struggles, the Chinese people of all ethnic groups lead by the Communist Party of China with Chairman Mao Zedong as its leader, overthrew the rule of imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism. In 1949, the Party won the great victory of the New-Democratic Revolution and the People's Republic of China was formed.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the country gradually achieved its transition from a new-democratic to a socialist society. The socialist transformation of the private ownership of the means of production was completed as the system of exploitation by the owners of the means of production was abolished, and the socialist system established. The People's Democratic Dictatorship, lead by the working class and based on the alliance of workers and peasants, was consolidated and developed.
Since then, the Chinese people and the Chinese People's Liberation Army have defeated imperialist and hegemonist aggression, sabotage and armed provocations, and have safeguarded its national independence and the security of the People’s Republic of China.
Historical and Cultural Sites
The People’s Republic of China prides itself on maintaining its cultural identity through its people, and even though the country has some of the greatest modern engineered and architecturally designed buildings, it also has a large distribution of ancient villages; a rare phenomenon in the world. As such, the natural environment, folk culture, art and handicrafts are well preserved in these villages.
Having experienced one of the earliest forms of civilization, which dates as far back as 5,000 years, China has some 400,000 known unmovable cultural relics which may be found above and under ground. Since 1996, the State Council has listed 770 key historical and cultural sites which fall under the protection of the State. The number of key historical and cultural sites to be placed under State protection is estimated to reach 1,800 in 2015. In addition, some 7,000 historical and cultural sites fall under Provincial protection, and more than 60,000 under Municipal and Prefectural protection.
Foreign Policy
The People’s Republic of China recognises that its achievements are inseparable from the support of other countries of the world, and consistently carries out its foreign policy which adheres to the five principles of:
- Mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity
- Mutual non-aggression and non-interference in each other's internal affairs
- Equality and mutual benefit
- Peaceful co-existence in developing diplomatic relations, and
- Economic and cultural exchanges with other countries
The People’s Republic of China consistently opposes imperialism, hegemony and colonialism, and works to strengthen unity with other countries. The country supports oppressed nations and developing countries in their struggle to win and preserve national independence and develop their economies, and safeguard world peace.
Quick Facts on the People’s Republic of China
National Flag
National flag: Red flag with five stars.
On September 27, 1949, the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), approved the proposal for using the red five-star flag as the national flag of the People's Republic of China. The red colour of the flag symbolises revolution and the yellow colour of the stars signifies the golden rays radiating from the vast red land. The design of four smaller stars surrounding the largest star signifies the unity of the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
National Emblem
National emblem: Tian’anmen Gatetower under five stars, encircled by ears of grain, with a gear wheel below.
The Second Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), National Committee, on June 18, 1950, adopted the design and illustration of the National Emblem of the People’s Republic of China. On September 27 that year, Chairman Mao Zedong ordered the promulgation of the National Emblem. Composed of patterns of the national flag, the Tian'anmen Rostrum, a wheel gear and ears of wheat, symbolises the New-Democratic Revolution of the Chinese people since the Movement of 1919 and the birth of New China under the people's democratic dictatorship lead by the working class.
National Anthem
March of the Volunteers was written in 1935, with lyrics by poet Tian Han, and music by composer Nie Er, and serves to honour those who went to the front to fight the Japanese invaders in northeast China in the 1930’s. Decided upon as the provisional National Anthem of the new China on September 27, 1949 at the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the song was officially adopted as the National Anthem of the People’s Republic of China on December 4, 1982.
March of the Volunteers
Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves!
Let us amount our flesh and blood towards our new Great Wall!
The Chinese nation faces its greatest peril,
The thundering roar of our peoples will be heard!
Arise! Arise! Arise!
We are many, but our hearts beat as one!
Selflessly braving the enemy's gunfire, march on!
Selflessly braving the enemy's gunfire, march on!
March on! March on! on!
National Capital
Capital: Beijing - On September 27, 1949, the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) unanimously adopted a resolution making Beiping, renamed Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China.
Source: China Yearbook 2004; http://english.gov.cn/
