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Overlay Map of the United States and China

• Population: 1.27 billion

• Ethnic makeup: 93 percent Han, including Hui (Han Moslems); Mongol, Uygur, Kazakh, Tibetan, Zhuang and some 30 other minorities make up the remaining seven percent.

• Population distribution: Over 90 percent of its population resides on the eastern coast, which covers only 40 percent of China's whole area.

• Religion: 80 percent mixture of Buddhism and Taoism; five percent Moslem and less than one percent Christian.

• Languages: Although the Beijing version of Han (Mandarin) is the official language, the varieties are spoken in very distinctively different dialects.

• Literacy: 90 percent.

• Climate: China’s climate is similar to that of the “lower 48 States” of the United States. It ranges from East Siberian Tundra to tropical island weather in Hainan Island in the South China Sea; from highland desert in Tibet to grassland in Inner Mongolia.

• Urban versus rural regions: There are over 20 cities that each has a population of more than five million, although the size of the individual cities is significantly larger than that of Western cities. For instance, Beijing has a population of 12.4 million and is divided into nine counties, and occupies close to 16,810 square kilometers (6490sq. miles). The infrastructure and living conditions between urban and rural regions are very different due to the level of development. China only started its infrastructure modernization within the last 50 years compared with Japan, which started 110 years ago.

• Natural resources: China has the largest coal deposits, which continues to be its major source of energy. However, coal burning has caused significant pollution, especially in northern China. China is self sufficient in oil production, but it anticipates becoming a net oil importer within the next 10 years. Rich in rare metals from the south and southwestern regions, China has made significant contributions to its export capability with its metal trade.

• Political system: The highest law-making body is the People’s Congress. Members are nominated and elected from regions across the country. The Prime Minister appointed by the President heads the executive branch. The President is elected by the People’s Representatives from local districts. The largest and longest ruling political party in China is the Communist Party which has effectively controlled both the legislative and executive branches of the government since the inception of the People’s Republic in 1949.