Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flag of Andorra, which has a national coat of arms featuring a quartered shield centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Climate, geographic remoteness, poor resource endowment, and lack of infrastructure make Chad one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. Its economy is hobbled by political turmoil, drought, and food shortages. Consequently the economy has shown little progress in recent years in overcoming a severe setback brought on by civil war in the late 1980s. More than 80% of the work force is involved in subsistence farming and fishing. Cotton is the major cash crop, accounting for at least half of exports. Chad is highly dependent on foreign aid, especially food credits, given chronic shortages in several regions. Of all the Francophone countries in Africa, Chad has benefited the least from the 50% devaluation of their currencies on 12 January 1994. Despite an increase in external financial aid and favorable price increases for cotton - the primary source of foreign exchange - the corrupt and enfeebled government bureaucracy continues to postpone payment of public sector salaries and to dampen economic enterprise by neglecting payments to domestic suppliers. The devaluation resulted in stepped-up inflation of 41% in 1994; in contrast to other Francophone countries, Chad continued to suffer high inflation in 1995 because of the government's lack of financial discipline. Oil production in the Lake Chad area remains a distant prospect and the subsistence-driven economy probably will continue to limp along in the near term.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.3 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $600 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 49% industry: 17% services: 34%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 41% (1994 est.)
Labor force: NAby occupation: agriculture 85% (subsistence farming, herding, andfishing)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $120 millionexpenditures: $363 million, including capital expenditures of $104million (1992 est.)
Industries: cotton textiles, meat packing, beer brewing, natron(sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 40,000 kW production: 80 million kWh consumption per capita: 13 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Exports: $132 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: cotton, cattle, textiles, fish partners: France, Nigeria, Cameroon, Zaire, Sudan, Central African Republic
Imports: $201 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 39%, industrial goods 20%, petroleum products 13%, foodstuffs 9%; textiles; note - excludes military equipment partners: US, France, Nigeria, Cameroon, Italy, Germany
External debt: $757 million (December 1993 )
Economic aid:recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100centimes
Exchange rates: CFA Francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),282.11 (1991)note: beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since1948
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 31,141 km paved: 32 km unpaved: 31,109 km (1987 est.)
Waterways: 2,000 km navigable
Ports: none
Airports:total: 47with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 11with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 18 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 5,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: primitive system domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1987 est.) note: limited TV service; many facilities are inoperative
Televisions: 7,000 (1991 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Armed Forces (includes Ground Force, Air Force, andGendarmerie), Republican Guard, Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,562,052 males fit for military service: 809,210 males reach military age (20) annually: 63,254 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $74 million, 11.1% of GDP (1994)
======================================================================
@Chile ——-
Map —-
Location: 30 00 S, 71 00 W — Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
Flag ——
Description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is a blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the center; design was based on the US flag
Geography ————-
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South AtlanticOcean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
Geographic coordinates: 30 00 S, 71 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:total area: 756,950 sq kmland area: 748,800 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than twice the size of Montananote: includes Isla de Pascua (Easter Island) and Isla Sala y Gomez
Land boundaries: total: 6,171 km border countries: Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km
Coastline: 6,435 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: short section of the southern boundary with Argentina is indefinite; Bolivia has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Bolivia over Rio Lauca water rights; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims
Climate: temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south
Terrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; ruggedAndes in eastlowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m
Natural resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, preciousmetals, molybdenum
Land use:arable land: 7%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 16%forest and woodland: 21%other: 56%
Irrigated land: 12,650 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions;water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation contributing to lossof biodiversity; soil erosion; desertificationnatural hazards: severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamisinternational agreements: party to - Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, MarineDumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: strategic location relative to sea lanes betweenAtlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel,Drake Passage); Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions
People ———
Population: 14,333,258 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29% (male 2,071,816; female 2,041,417)15-64 years: 65% (male 4,599,173; female 4,651,030)65 years and over: 6% (male 403,019; female 566,803) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.24% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 18.09 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.68 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.49 years male: 71.26 years female: 77.72 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.23 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Chilean(s) adjective: Chilean
Ethnic divisions: European and European-Indian 95%, Indian 3%, other 2%
Religions: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish
Languages: Spanish
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 95.2%male: 95.4%female: 95%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Chile conventional short form: Chile local long form: Republica de Chile local short form: Chile
Data code: CI
Type of government: republic
Capital: Santiago
Administrative divisions: 13 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana, Tarapaca, Valparaiso note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence: 18 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
Constitution: 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 30 July 1989
Legal system: based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and subsequent codes influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Eduardo FREIRuiz-Tagle (since 11 March 1994) elected for a four-year term bypopular vote; election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be heldNA December 1997); results - Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (PDC) 58%,Arturo ALESSANDRI 24.4%, other 17.6%cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) Senate (Senado): election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (46 total, 38 elected) Coalition of Parties for Democracy 21 (PDC 13, PS 4, PPD 3, PR 1), Union for the Progress of Chile 15 (RN 11, UDI 3, UCC 1), right-wing independents 10 Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1997); results - Coalition of Parties for Democracy 53.95% (PDC 27.16%, PS 12.01%, PPD 11.82%, PR 2.96%), Union for the Progress of Chile 30.57% (RN 15.25%, UDI 12.13%, UCC 3.19%); seats - (120 total) Coalition of Parties for Democracy 70 (PDC 37, PPD 15, PR 2, PS 15, left-wing independent 1), Union for the Progress of Chile 47 (RN 30, UDI 15, UCC 2), right-wing independents 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are appointed by the president, the president of the Supreme Court is elected by the 17-member court
Political parties and leaders: Coalition of Parties for Democracy(CPD) consists mainly of: Christian Democratic Party (PDC),Alejandro FOXLEY; Socialist Party (PS), Camilo ESCALONA; Party forDemocracy (PPD), Jorge SCHAULSOHN, Radical Party (PR); Union for theProgress of Chile (UPP) consists mainly of three parties: NationalRenewal (RN), Andres ALLAMAND; Independent Democratic Union (UDI),Jovino NOVOA; Center Center Union (UCCP), Francisco Javier ERRAZURIZ
Other political or pressure groups: revitalized university studentfederations at all major universities; labor - United Labor Central(CUT) includes trade unionists from the country's five largest laborconfederations; Roman Catholic Church
International organization participation: APEC, CCC, ECLAC, FAO,G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate member), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA,RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador John BIEHL del Rio chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746 FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Gabriel GUERRA-MONDRAGON embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Santiago mailing address: use street address telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600 FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is a blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the center; design was based on the US flag
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Chile has a prosperous, essentially free market economy, with the degree of government intervention varying according to the philosophy of the different regimes. Under the center-left government of President AYLWIN, which took power in March 1990, spending on social welfare rose steadily. At the same time business investment, exports, and consumer spending also grew substantially. The new president, FREI, who took office in March 1994, has emphasized social spending even more. Growth in real GDP in 1991-95 has averaged more than 6.5% annually, with an estimated one million Chileans having moved out of poverty in the last four years. Copper remains vital to the health of the economy; Chile is the world's largest producer and exporter of copper. Success in meeting the government's goal of sustained annual economic growth of 5% depends on world copper prices, the level of confidence of foreign investors and creditors, and the government's own ability to maintain a conservative fiscal stance.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $113.2 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 8.5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $8,000 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 7.4% industry: 36.4% services: 56.2% (1985)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.1% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 4.728 millionby occupation: services 38.3% (includes government 12%), industryand commerce 33.8%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 19.2%, mining2.3%, construction 6.4% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 5.4% (1995 est.)
Budget:revenues: $17 billionexpenditures: $17 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1996 est.)
Industries: copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 4.3% (1993 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 4,810,000 kW production: 22 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,499 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes,fruit; beef, poultry, wool; timber; 1991 fish catch of 6.6 millionmetric tons
Illicit drugs: a minor transshipment country for cocaine destinedfor the US and Europe; booming economy has made it more attractiveto traffickers seeking to launder drug profits
Exports: $15.9 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)commodities: copper 41%, other metals and minerals 8.7%, woodproducts 7.1%, fish and fishmeal 9.8%, fruits 8.4% (1991)partners: EU 25%, US 15%, Asia 34%, Latin America 20% (1995 est.)
Imports: $14.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)commodities: capital goods 25.2%, spare parts 24.8%, raw materials15.4%, petroleum 10%, foodstuffs 5.7%partners: EU 18%, US 25%, Asia 16%, Latin America 26% (1995 est.)
External debt: $21.1 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $62 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Chilean peso (Ch$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1 - 408.64 (December 1995), 396.78 (1995), 420.08 (1994), 404.35 (1993), 362.59 (1992), 349.37 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 6,782 kmbroad gauge: 3,743 km 1.676-m gauge (1,653 km electrified)narrow gauge: 116 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,923 km 1.000-m gauge (40 kmelectrified) (1995)
Highways: total: 79,593 km paved: 10,984 km unpaved: 68,609 km (1991 est.)
Waterways: 725 km
Pipelines: crude oil 755 km; petroleum products 785 km; naturalgas 320 km
Ports: Antofagasta, Arica, Chanarol, Coquimbo, Iquique, PuertoMontt, Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Talcahuano, Valparaiso
Merchant marine:total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 529,512 GRT/925,364 DWTships by type: bulk 11, cargo 8, chemical tanker 4, combinationore/oil 2, container 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 4,roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, vehicle carrier 2 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 344with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 5with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 17with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 16with paved runways under 914 m: 220with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 10with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 68 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 1.5 million (1994 est.)
Telephone system: modern system based on extensive microwave radiorelay facilitiesdomestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellitesystem with 3 earth stationsinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 159, FM 0, shortwave 11
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 131
Televisions: 2.85 million (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army of the Nation, National Navy (includes Naval Air,Coast Guard, and Marines), Air Force of the Nation, Carabineros ofChile (National Police), Investigations Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 3,808,655 males fit for military service: 2,832,198 males reach military age (19) annually: 123,443 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $970 million, 2.0% of GDP (1994 est.)
======================================================================
@China ——-
(also see separate Taiwan entry)
Map —-
Location: 35 00 N, 105 00 E — Eastern Asia, bordering the EastChina Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between NorthKorea and Vietnam
Flag ——
Description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner
Geography ————-
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay,Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:total area: 9,596,960 sq kmland area: 9,326,410 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than the US
Land boundaries:total: 22,143.34 kmborder countries: Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km,Hong Kong 30 km, India 3,380 km, Kazakstan 1,533 km, North Korea1,416 km, Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Macau 0.34 km, Mongolia4,673 km, Nepal 1,236 km, Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast) 3,605km, Russia (northwest) 40 km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 km
Coastline: 14,500 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: claim to shallow areas of East China Sea andYellow Seaterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: boundary with India in dispute; disputed sections of the boundary with Russia remain to be settled; boundary with Tajikistan in dispute; short section of the boundary with North Korea is indefinite; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; maritime boundary dispute with Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai), as does Taiwan
Climate: extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
Terrain: mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, petroleum, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest)
Land use:arable land: 10%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 31%forest and woodland: 14%other: 45%
Irrigated land: 478,220 sq km (1991)
Environment:current issues: air pollution from the overwhelming use ofhigh-sulfur coal as a fuel, produces acid rain which is damagingforests; water shortages experienced throughout the country,particularly in urban areas; future growth in water usage threatensto outpace supplies; water pollution from industrial effluents; muchof the population does not have access to potable water; less than10% of sewage receives treatment; deforestation; estimated loss ofone-fifth of agricultural land since 1957 to soil erosion andeconomic development; desertification; trade in endangered speciesnatural hazards: frequent typhoons (about five per year alongsouthern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis;earthquakes; droughtsinternational agreements: party to - Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, OzoneLayer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands;signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: world's third-largest country (after Russia andCanada)
People ———
Population: 1,210,004,956 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26% (male 167,448,148; female 151,601,650)15-64 years: 67% (male 421,455,418; female 393,913,510)65 years and over: 7% (male 35,056,409; female 40,529,821) (July1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.98% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 17.01 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 6.92 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.11 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/femaleall ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 39.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.62 years male: 68.33 years female: 71.06 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:noun: Chinese (singular and plural)adjective: Chinese
Ethnic divisions: Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi,Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities8.1%
Religions: Daoism (Taoism), Buddhism, Muslim 2%-3%, Christian 1%(est.)note: officially atheist, but traditionally pragmatic and eclectic
Languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on theBeijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei(Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects,minority languages (see Ethnic divisions entry)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 81.5%male: 89.9%female: 72.7%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: People's Republic of Chinaconventional short form: Chinalocal long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguolocal short form: Zhong Guoabbreviation: PRC
Data code: CH
Type of government: Communist state
Capital: Beijing
Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (sheng, singular andplural), 5 autonomous regions* (zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 3municipalities** (shi, singular and plural); Anhui, Beijing**,Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi*, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei,Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin,Liaoning, Nei Mongol*, Ningxia*, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong,Shanghai**, Shanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin**, Xinjiang*, Xizang* (Tibet),Yunnan, Zhejiangnote: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province
Independence: 221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty221 BC; Qing or Ch'ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12February 1912; People's Republic established 1 October 1949)
National holiday: National Day, 1 October (1949)
Constitution: most recent promulgated 4 December 1982
Legal system: a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely criminal law; rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987; new legal codes in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts are being made to improve civil, administrative, criminal, and commercial law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993) and VicePresident RONG Yiren (since 27 March 1993) elected by the NationalPeople's Congress; election last held 27 March 1993 (next to be heldNA 1998); results - JIANG Zemin was nominally elected by the EighthNational People's Congresshead of government: Premier LI Peng (Acting Premier since 24November 1987, Premier since 9 April 1988) nominated by thepresident, decided by the National People's Congress; Vice PremiersZHU Rongji (since 8 April 1991), ZOU Jiahua (since 8 April 1991),QIAN Qichen (since 29 March 1993), LI Lanqing (29 March 1993), WUBangguo (since 17 March 1995), and JIANG Chunyun (since 17 March1995) nominated by the president, decided by the National People'sCongresscabinet: State Council appointed by the National People's Congress(NPC)
Legislative branch: unicameralNational People's Congress (Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui): electionslast held NA March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1998); results -CCP is the only party but there are also independents; seats -(2,977 total) (elected at county or xian level)
Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, judges appointed by theNational People's Congress
Political parties and leaders: Chinese Communist Party (CCP),JIANG Zemin, general secretary of the Central Committee; eightregistered small parties controlled by CCP
Other political or pressure groups: such meaningful opposition asexists consists of loose coalitions, usually within the party andgovernment organization, that vary by issue
International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC,ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer),Mekong Group, MINURSO, NAM (observer), PCA, UN, UN Security Council,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNOMIL, UNTSO, UNU,UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador LI Daoyuchancery: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 328-2500 through 2502consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, andSan Francisco
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador James R. SASSER embassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [86] (10) 5323831 FAX: [86] (10) 5326422 consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang
Flag: red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership has been trying to move the economy from a sluggish Soviet-style centrally planned economy to one that is more market-oriented, but still within a rigid political framework of Communist Party control. To this end the authorities switched to a system of household responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization, increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprise in services and light manufacturing, and opened the economy to increased foreign trade and investment. The result has been a strong surge in production. Agricultural output doubled in the 1980s, and industry also posted major gains, especially in coastal areas near Hong Kong and opposite Taiwan, where foreign investment and modern production methods helped spur output of both domestic and export goods. GDP has more than tripled since 1978. On the darker side, the leadership has often experienced in its hybrid system the worst results of socialism (bureaucracy, lassitude, corruption) and of capitalism (windfall gains and stepped-up inflation). Beijing thus has periodically backtracked, retightening central controls at intervals. In 1992-95 annual growth of GDP accelerated, particularly in the coastal areas - averaging more than 10% annually according to official figures. In late 1993 China's leadership approved additional long-term reforms aimed at giving still more play to 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 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 extortion and other economic crimes; and (c) keep afloat the large state-owned enterprises, most of which had not participated in the vigorous expansion of the economy. From 60 to 100 million surplus rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many subsisting through part-time low-pay 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 the nation's long-term economic viability. One of the most dangerous long-term threats 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. The amount of arable land continues to decline because of erosion and economic development, the cumulative loss since the Communist takeover in 1949 being more than 15%. The next few years will witness increasing tensions between a highly centralized political system and an increasingly decentralized economic system.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.5 trillion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate with use of official Chinese growth figures for 1993-95; the result may overstate China's GDP by as much as 25%)
GDP real growth rate: 10.3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,900 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 19% industry: 48% services: 33% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.1% (December 1995 overDecember 1994)
Labor force: 583.6 million (1991) by occupation: agriculture and forestry 60%, industry and commerce 25%, construction and mining 5%, social services 5%, other 5% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.2% in urban areas (1995 est.); substantial underemployment
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: iron and steel, coal, machine building, armaments, textiles and apparel, petroleum, cement, chemical fertilizers, consumer durables, food processing, autos, consumer electronics, telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate: 13.4% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 162,000,000 kW production: 746 billion kWh consumption per capita: 593 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: rice, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, cotton, other fibers, oilseed; pork and other livestock products; fish
Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for heroin produced inthe Golden Triangle; growing domestic drug abuse problem
Exports: $148.8 billion (f.o.b., 1995)commodities: garments, textiles, footwear, toys, machinery andequipment (1994)partners: Hong Kong, Japan, US, Germany, South Korea, Singapore(1994)
Imports: $132.1 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: industrial machinery, textiles, plastics, telecommunications equipment, steel bars, aircraft (1994) partners: Japan, Taiwan, US, Hong Kong, South Korea, Germany (1994)
External debt: $92 billion (1994 est.)
Economic aid:donor: to less developed countries (1970-89) $NArecipient: ODA, $1.977 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 yuan (Y) = 10 jiao
Exchange rates: yuan (Y) per US$1 - 8.3186 (January 1996), 8.3514 (1995), 8.6187 (1994), 5.7620 (1993), 5.5146 (1992), 5.3234 (1991) note: beginning 1 January 1994, the People's Bank of China quotes the midpoint rate against the US dollar based on the previous day's prevailing rate in the interbank foreign exchange market
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 58,399 kmstandard gauge: 54,799 km 1.435-m gauge (7,174 km electrified; morethan 11,000 km double track)narrow gauge: 3,600 km 0.762-m gauge local industrial lines (1995)
Highways: total: 1.029 million km paved: 170,000 km unpaved: 859,000 km (1990 est.)
Waterways: 138,600 km; about 109,800 km navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 9,700 km; petroleum products 1,100 km;natural gas 6,200 km (1990)
Ports: Aihui, Changsha, Dalian, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Hangzhou,Harbin, Huangpu, Nanning, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai,Shantou, Tanggu, Xiamen, Xingang, Zhanjiang
Merchant marine:total: 1,700 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,663,260GRT/25,026,090 DWTships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 316, cargo 876, chemical tanker15, combination bulk 11, container 103, liquefied gas tanker 4,multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 227, passenger 24,passenger-cargo 28, refrigerated cargo 22, roll-on/roll-off cargo24, short-sea passenger 45note: China owns an additional 267 ships (1,000 GRT or over)totaling 9,044,039 DWT operating under the registries of Panama,Hong Kong, Malta, Liberia, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, The Bahamas, Marshall Islands, and Singapore (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 204with paved runways over 3 047 m: 17with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 69with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 89with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9with paved runways under 914 m: 7with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3with unpaved runways under 914 m: 3 (1994 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 20 million (1994 est.)
Telephone system: domestic and international services areincreasingly available for private use; unevenly distributeddomestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, andmost townshipsdomestic: telephone lines are being expanded; interprovincialfiber-optic trunk lines and cellular telephone systems have beeninstalled; a domestic satellite system with 55 earth stations is inplaceinternational: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 PacificOcean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region) and1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions); several internationalfiber-optic links to Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong
Radio broadcast stations: AM 274, FM NA, shortwave 0
Radios: 216.5 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 202 (repeaters 2,050)
Televisions: 75 million
Defense ———-
Branches: People's Liberation Army (PLA), which includes the Ground Forces, Navy (includes Marines and Naval Aviation), Air Force, Second Artillery Corps (the strategic missile force), People's Armed Police (internal security troops, nominally subordinate to Ministry of Public Security, but included by the Chinese as part of the "armed forces" and considered to be an adjunct to the PLA in wartime)
Manpower availability:males age 15-49: 352,506,948males fit for military service: 194,589,216males reach military age (18) annually: 9,763,916 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: the officially announced but suspect figureis 70.2 billion yuan, NA% of GDP (1995 est.); note - conversion ofthe defense budget into US dollars using the current exchange ratecould produce misleading results
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@Christmas Island ————————
(territory of Australia)
Map —-
Location: 10 30 S, 105 40 E — Southeastern Asia, island in theIndian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Flag ——
Description: the flag of Australia is used
Geography ————-
Location: Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south ofIndonesia
Geographic coordinates: 10 30 S, 105 40 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total area: 135 sq kmland area: 135 sq kmcomparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 138.9 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Natural resources: phosphate
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 0%forest and woodland: 0%other: 100%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island canbe a maritime hazardinternational agreements: NA
Geographic note: located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
People ———
Population: 813 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -8.98% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio:at birth: NA male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: NA male(s)/female15-64 years: NA male(s)/female65 years and over: NA male(s)/femaleall ages: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality: noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island
Ethnic divisions: Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%,no indigenous population
Religions: Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20%(1991)
Languages: English
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Islandconventional short form: Christmas Island
Data code: KT
Type of government: territory of Australia
Capital: The Settlement
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: Christmas Island Act of 1958
Legal system: under the authority of the governor general ofAustralia
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6February 1952) is a hereditary monarchhead of government: Administrator Danny Ambrose GILLESPIE (since NA)was appointed by the governor general of Australia and representsthe queen and Australiacabinet: Christmas Island Shire Council
Legislative branch: none
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: the flag of Australia is used
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine as no longer economically viable. Private operators reopened the mine in 1990 under strict environmental controls, in particular to preserve the rain forest. A hotel and casino complex opened in 1993, and tourism is a likely growth sector.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $NA
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NAby occupation: all workers are employees of the Phosphate MiningCompany of Christmas Island, Ltd.
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 11,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 17,800 kWh (1990)
Agriculture: NA
Exports: $NAcommodities: phosphatepartners: Australia, NZ
Imports: $NAcommodities: consumer goodspartners: principally Australia
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January 1996),1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704, (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Transportation ———————
Railways: 24 km to serve phosphate mines
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports: Flying Fish Cove
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 1 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 500 (1992)
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 350 (1992)
Defense ———-
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
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@Clipperton Island ————————-
(possession of France)
Map —-
Location: 10 17 N, 109 13 W — Middle America, atoll in the NorthPacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico
Flag ——
Description: the flag of France is used
Geography ————-
Location: Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120km southwest of Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 10 17 N, 109 13 W
Map references: World
Area:total area: 7 sq kmland area: 7 sq kmcomparative area: about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 11.1 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claimed by Mexico
Climate: tropical, humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, rains May-October
Terrain: coral atoll lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Rocher Clipperton 21 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 0%forest and woodland: 0%other: 100% (all coral)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: subject to tornadoes international agreements: NA
Geographic note: reef about 8 km in circumference
People ———
Population: uninhabited
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Clipperton Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Clipperton former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion
Data code: IP
Type of government: French possession administered by France fromFrench Polynesia by the High Commissioner of the Republic
Capital: none; administered by France from French Polynesia
Independence: none (possession of France)
Flag: the flag of France is used
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The only economic activity is a tuna fishingstation.
Transportation ———————
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Defense ———-
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France
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@Cocos (Keeling) Islands ———————————-
(territory of Australia)
Map —-
Location: 12 30 S, 96 50 E — Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri Lanka
Flag ——
Description: the flag of Australia is used
Geography ————-
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 96 50 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total area: 14 sq kmland area: 14 sq kmcomparative area: about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DCnote: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2.6 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine months of the year; moderate rainfall
Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:arable land: NA%permanent crops: NA%meadows and pastures: NA%forest and woodland: NA%other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: fresh water resources are limited to rainwateraccumulations in natural underground reservoirsnatural hazards: cyclones may occur in the early months of the yearinternational agreements: NA
Geographic note: two coral atolls thickly covered with coconutpalms and other vegetation
People ———
Population: 609 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0.94% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio:at birth: NA male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: NA male(s)/female15-64 years: NA male(s)/female65 years and over: NA male(s)/femaleall ages: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:noun: Cocos Islander(s)adjective: Cocos Islander
Ethnic divisions:West Island: EuropeansHome Island: Cocos Malays
Religions: Sunni Muslim 57%, Christian 22%, other 21% (1981 est.)
Languages: English
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islandsconventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Data code: CK
Type of government: territory of Australia
Capital: West Island
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
Legal system: based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
Suffrage: NA
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6February 1952) is a hereditary monarchhead of government: Administrator John Bell READ (since NA) wasappointed by the governor general of Australia and represents thequeen and Australia
Legislative branch: unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands ShireCouncil; President of the Islands Council Ronald GRANT (since NA)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: the flag of Australia is used