China I.H.T. keep afloat the large state-owned enterprises, most of which had not participated CHINA-People Republic of in the vigorous expansion of the economy and many of which had been losing the ability to pay full wages and pensions. From 50 to 100 million surplus rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many subsisting through part-time low-paying jobs. Popular resistance, changes in central policy, and loss of authority by rural cadres have weakened China's population control program, which is essential to maintaining growth in living standards. Another long-term threat to continued rapid economic growth is the deterioration in the environment, notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table especially in the north. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and economic development. The next few years will witness increasing tensions between a highly centralized political system and an increasingly decentralized economic system. Industries: iron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments, textiles and apparel, petroleum, cement, chemical fertilizers, footwear, toys, food processing, automobiles, consumer electronics, telecommunications Currency: 1 yuan = 10 jiao Railways: total: 65,650 km (including 5,400 km of provincial "local" rails) standard gauge: 62,050 km 1.435-m gauge (12,150 km electrified; 20,250 km double track) narrow gauge: 3,600 km 0.750-m gauge local industrial lines (1998 est.) note: a new total of 68,000 km has been estimated for early 1999 Highways: total: 1.21 million km paved: 271,300 km (with at least 24,474 km of expressways) unpaved: 938,700 km (1998 est.) Waterways: 110,000 km navigable (1999) Ports and Harbors: Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Huangpu, Directory Lianyungang, Nanjing, Nantong, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shantou, Tianjin, Xiamen, Xingang, Yantai, Zhanjiang Country Dialling Code (Tel/Fax): ++86 Airports: 206 (1996 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 192 over 3,047 CHINA TEL: National Tourism Administration: Department of Marketing Travel m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 65 1,524 to 2,437 m: 90 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 and Communications, 9A Kianguomenne Avenue, Beijing 100740 Tel: (1)-6520-1411 m: 6 (1996 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 Fax: (10)-6512-2851 Website: www.cnta.com and 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.) Capital: Beijing Time: GMT + 8 Visa: visa required by all except for nationals of Mongolia and Laos. HIV Background: For centuries CHINA TEL: has stood as a leading civilization, positive patients not permitted in the country. China does not recognise dual outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences. But in the first half of the 20th nationalities, eg American-Chinese Hotel century, CHINA TEL: was beset by major famines, civil unrest, military defeats, and Duty Free: 400 cigarettes, 2 litres of alcoholic beverages, a reasonable amount foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong of perfume for personal use established a dictatorship that, while ensuring CHINA TEL: 's sovereignty, imposed Health: risk of yellow fever, typhoid and cholera. Malaria risk also. Outside main strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After areas water must be boiled. 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping decentralized economic decision making. Output quadrupled in the next 20 years and CHINA TEL: now has the world's second largest GDP. Political controls remain tight even while economic controls continue to weaken. 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Beijing BEIJING CHINA TEL: 65007700 65004568 market-oriented institutions and at strengthening the center's control over the financial system; state enterprises would continue to dominate many key industries in what was now termed "a socialist market economy". In 1995-99 inflation dropped sharply, reflecting tighter monetary policies and stronger measures to control food prices. At the same time, the government struggled to (a) collect revenues due from provinces, businesses, and individuals; (b) reduce corruption and other economic crimes; and (c) ©Copyrights China ®Design Intercontex The Intercontex I.H.T.- Over 150,000 Subscribers China I.H.T. HARBOR PLAZA BEIJING HARBOUR PLAZA BEIJING NO 8 JIANG TAI WEST ROAD 100016 BEIJING CHINA Xiao Tianzhu Village Tel: +8610 64362288 P.O. 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