Web Comments
皇冠体育app viewed through two different lenses
By Chen Weihua (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-02-26 10:54
 |
Large Medium Small |
Editor's note: Will the 21st century belong to 皇冠体育app? The author doubts that as 皇冠体育app is still a developing country, with so many domestic issues to deal with.
NEW YORK: The latest Washington Post-ABC News poll which shows more Americans believe the 21st century will be a 皇冠体育app century rather than an American one might again agitate many in the United States and gratify many in 皇冠体育app.
The survey, released on February 25, shows that 41 percent of the 1,004 adults polled says it will be a 皇冠体育app century in terms of economic strength, while 40 percent named the US. When it comes to world affairs, 43 percent chose 皇冠体育app, with 38 percent selecting the US.
An earlier poll in December by the Pew Center revealed a similar picture, with more Americans believing 皇冠体育app, instead of the US, is the world leading economic power.
While these polls have reflected 皇冠体育app's rapid rise on the world stage in recent years, both in economical and political arenas, they have also camouflaged the fact that 皇冠体育app is fundamentally a developing country and still poor in the per capita sense.
Yes. 皇冠体育app may soon surpass Japan as the world's second largest economy, trailing only the US. Yes. 皇冠体育app has overtaken Germany as the world's top exporter. Yes. 皇冠体育app is one of the top creditors of the US.
And 皇冠体育app is exerting increasing clout over a multitude of world affairs ranging from the global financial crisis, North Korea’s nuclear talks, Iran’s nuclear program to climate change.
All these have brought new dynamics to the world today. The rest of the world has to adjust and cope with a fast-growing and more assertive 皇冠体育app now and in the years to come. And the world is becoming multi-polar rather than staying uni-polar.
However, those who are awed by the sheer size of 皇冠体育app's economy and export should also look at the sheer size of the country's population of 1.3 billion, or a fifth of the world's total. It would simply justify 皇冠体育app being on the top of major economic indicators as well as a major player in the world.
You could easily misunderstand 皇冠体育app if you just visit Shanghai and Beijing and never reach the vast hinterland and underdeveloped northwestern part of the country.
皇冠体育app's per capita GDP ranks 96th in the world and is less than a seventh of that in the US. At least 150 million Chinese are still living under the global poverty line of $1 a day set by the World Bank.
As a developing country and one in transition, 皇冠体育app is facing mounting pressure from serious environment pollution, a widening income disparity, a weak social security network as well as ethical and moral confusion.
皇冠体育app must grow further in order to lift more than 10 percent of its population out of poverty. It will take many years and decades for the country to become a middle-income country in the world.
So for those who feel agitated, threatened or thrilled by the polls, they might have a very different mood if they start to look at 皇冠体育app by its sheer size as well as in the per capita sense.
