The year's almost come to an end, and China is all set to end it on a high note. This year was especially significant for China, on account of its 60th anniversary celebrations, which went off smoothly. On the economic front too, China showed tremendous growth. The one area where progress was slow was the environment, with the climate change conference in Copenhagen
failing to reach a conclusive deal.
On a brighter note, China's Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), said the country's
grain output is expected to top 500 million tons for the third consecutive year in 2009. According to industry officials, the growth was achieved despite difficult situations like fluctuations in the farm produce market, the global economic downturn, unprecedented droughts, and frequent plant diseases and insect pests.
The year was particularly great for China's
auto market. The country now ranks ahead of the U.S., and the Chinese government is striving to keep it that way. The government halved taxes on purchases of small autos and is spending five billion yuan (about $730 million) on subsidies for purchases of light trucks and minivans in the countryside, where most of China's 1.3 billion people live.
Read more about China's economy, politics and other current events in the Daily Updates section of our website.
In a past article, "
China Goes Green?," we explored China's staggering environmental challenges, and discussed whether its efforts to help improve the state of air, water and land will be enough. The article is particularly important in the light of
recent comments made by Qin Gang, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson.
Referring to the climate change conference, Gang said, the purpose of the developed world "is to shift their responsibility of helping developing countries and to create tensions in China's relations with other nations. Such a scheme won't succeed...." He also said China urges "them to correct their mistakes, earnestly fulfill their duty in helping developing countries and not to disturb the international cooperation on curbing climate change."
Read this and other articles at our website.
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From all of us at US-China Today
, we wish you a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year!