THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
 
The geographical position: The People’s Republic of China is located in East Asia.
       
The area: 9,600,000 square meters (the third largest state following Russia and Canada).
       
The population: In excess of 1,300,000,000 (the top position worldwide).
       
The capital: Beijing (15,380,000 residents).
       
The administrative territorial division: 4 cities subordinate to the top authorities of the People’s Republic of China; they have the same status as the one of the provinces; 23 provinces; 5 autonomous (national) regions and 2 special administrative regions.

       
The official language: The Chinese language; it is one of the five working languages of the UN.
       
The National Holiday: The Day of formation of the People’s Republic of China (October 1).
       
The State Structure. The Supreme State Authority: The All-Chinese Meeting of the People’s Representatives elected for a term of five years.   Hu Tszintao (elected in March 2003), Chairman of the People’s Republic of China, is the head of the state.  Si Tszinpin is Deputy Chairman of the People’s Republic of China.
       
The Supreme Executive Authority: The State Council of the People’s Republic of China.  Wen Jiabao is the premier of the State Council (as of March 2003).
       
Political Parties: The Communist party of China (in excess of 73 million members).  Hu Tszintao is the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China.  China also has 8 other political parties (their total number of members is about 600,000 people), these parties officially recognize the superiority of the Communist party of China, and they are officially named “democratic parties”.  The political system of China has a consolidated patriotic front organized as a system of people’s political consultation councils that have a deliberative scope of authority.
       
The National Economy: China has occupied the number one position worldwide in terms of its economic growth (the average growth rate has been 9-10% per annum within the last thirty years).  In 2007, the nominal GPG value of China reached USD 3,44 trillion, whereas the per capita GDP reached USD 2,600.  

In 2007, its industrial production and construction growth rate reached 13.4%.  Within the last five years, the growth rate in hi-tech industries reached 27%.  The amount of grain crops harvested reached 500 million tons.
       
Export and Import Operations: China has obtained position of a leading commercial power.   Its foreign trade turnover reached USD 2,174 trillion in 2007.  Its exportation operations value is USD 1,218 billion; the importation operations value is USD 955,8 billion.  China’s major foreign trade partners include EC states, USA, Japan and ASEAN states.

China’s gold and currency reserves have reached USD 1,8 trillion (the number one position worldwide).
         
The Monetary Unit: Yuan.
       
Russia/China  Relationship     

Diplomatic relations were established between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China on October 2, 1949.  Presently, the relationship between our countries is characterized by stable growth, a substantial legal base and a sophisticated structure of bilateral interaction, as well as intensive interaction at all levels.   The present pattern of strategic partnership and interaction is based on the Treaty of Neighbourliness, Friendship, and Cooperation of July 16, 2001.

The heads of the states of Russia and China maintain regular contacts.  Their summits have been held since 1996 on a regular basis.