China Today
1 The administrative division of the People's Republic of China is as follows: 1) The country is divided into provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government; 2) Provinces and autonomous regions are divided into autonomous prefectures, counties, autonomous counties, and cities; 3) Counties and autonomous counties are divided into townships, nationality townships, and towns. Municipalities directly under the Central Government and other large cities are divided into districts and counties. Autonomous prefectures are divided into counties, autonomous counties, and cities. All autonomous regions, autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties are national autonomous areas. The state may establish special administrative regions when necessary. The systems to be instituted in special administrative regions shall be prescribed by law enacted by the National People's Congress in light of specific conditions. At present, the state is divided into 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities directly under the Central Government and 2 special administrative regions. On the return of Hong Kong and Macau on 1-7-1997 and 20-12-1999 respectively, Special Administration Regions directly under the Central People s Government were established.
2 Answer the following questions according to data from source 1, from other reference material or from your own knowledge: 1. The capital of China is Beijing. 2. There are at present 4 municipalities directly under the Central Government, they are: Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Chongqing. 3. The 5 autonomous regions are: Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Tibet Autonomous Region, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. 4. The 5 Special Economic Zones are: Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Xiamen, Shantou cities and Hainan Province. 5. Hong Kong and Macau are Special Administrative Regions.
3 Colour in yellow the 5 autonomous regions and put in the names of the autonomous regions. A. Find the location of the state capital, mark it with a red dot and put in its name. B. Pick out the 4 municipalities directly under the Central Government, mark them with green dots and put in their names. C. Find the locations of the 5 special economic zones, mark them with blue dots and put in their names. A municipality is a city directly under the Central People s Government. It enjoys status equal to that of a province.
4 Where national minorities live in compact communities, autonomous organs of self-government are established under the unified leadership of the state. The minority people exercise autonomous rights, are masters in their own areas and administer their own internal affairs. Source: Special Economic Zones (SEZs) The establishment of Special Economic Zones is an important step in the opening up of China. As test areas for reform and opening up, Special Economic Zones not only become the most dynamic growth points of the Chinese economy, they also provide an innovative structural experience for the whole nation. The development of these outward-directed economies spurs the linking up of the domestic market with the international market and they have since become windows to the country. SEZs have become areas with the fastest economic growth since the reform. Special as in SEZ denotes the implementation of special economic policies and special management systems.
5 As of the end of 1994, the 5 SEZs attracted a total of nearly 30,000 direct foreign investment items, representing 1/7 th of the country s total. Actual capital input from foreign enterprises amounted to US$16.8 billion, or 18.4% of actual paid-up foreign capital. Export turnover reached 12% overall. On industrial output, foreign investment enterprises took up 50%. There are now 32 branches of foreign banks and joint Chinese-foreign banks in Shenzhen, Xiamen and Hainan. The industrial output of the enterprises in villages and above for 1996 was RMB 227.2 billion, representing 15% growth as compared to the year before. 1. Has the purpose for establishing SEZs as mentioned in source 2 been attained? Please find evidence from source 3 to support your answer. For your reference: SEZs are the most dynamic growth points in the Chinese economy. Source 3 mentions an increase of 15% for the industrial output of SEZs in 1996 as compared to 1995. Another purpose for the establishment of SEZs is to spur on the linking of the domestic and international markets and become windows of the country. The results are quite significant in this respect. For example, as at the end of 1994, the 5 SEZs attracted a total of nearly 30,000 direct foreign investment projects, and foreign capital enterprises took up 50% of the industrial output of SEZs. Foreign banks have set up branches and joint offices with Chinese banks in SEZs. In the process of economic reform, SEZs often enjoy more privileges than other inland areas. Is this fair? Students are encouraged to hold different views as long as they can give reasons to substantiate them. However, it is important to ensure that students know the purpose of this state policy, i.e. to attract foreign capital and turn SEZs into windows of the country.
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7 *At the end of 2001 Source: