China - Introduction

China, one of the earliest cradles of human civilization, is the third largest country in the world and has a 5,000 year history. For hundreds of years China was on the leading edge of technology: ceramics, metallurgy, civil engineering, and astronomy to name a few. It is a country with a vast land area of approximately 9,600,000 km 2. China also has the largest population in the world, comprising about one fifth of the human population. Since it opened its doors in late 1978, China has become one of the fastest growing economies in the world; offering great opportunities to foreign investors and traders.