In November, China's Communist rulers announced an easing of the controversial one-child policy amid a raft of sweeping pledges unveiled including the abolition of 're-education' labor camps and loosening economic controls.
China today —
In November, China's Communist rulers announced an easing of the controversial one-child policy amid a raft of sweeping pledges unveiled including the abolition of 're-education' labor camps and loosening economic controls.
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China has more Internet users than any other country, with more than 500 million people online, and an estimated 300 million microblog users. Although the services are censored -- with sensitive terms blocked and posts deleted -- the speed with which information can be disseminated has proven a headache for Beijing.
China today —
China has more Internet users than any other country, with more than 500 million people online, and an estimated 300 million microblog users. Although the services are censored -- with sensitive terms blocked and posts deleted -- the speed with which information can be disseminated has proven a headache for Beijing.
MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Image/FILE
Chinese consumers overtook Americans in December 2012 as the biggest buyers of luxury goods in the world -- accounting for 25% of global sales through purchases at home and overseas.
China today —
Chinese consumers overtook Americans in December 2012 as the biggest buyers of luxury goods in the world -- accounting for 25% of global sales through purchases at home and overseas.
PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/GettyImages
China is pushing to become a global space power, and experts say its ambitions go well beyond a symbolic moon landing, to satellite observation and a global positioning system to rival that of the United States.
Chinese idea —
China is pushing to become a global space power, and experts say its ambitions go well beyond a symbolic moon landing, to satellite observation and a global positioning system to rival that of the United States.
PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images
China's former leader <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2013%2F12%2F26%2Fworld%2Fasia%2Fmao-120-anniversary%2F">Mao Zedong's 120th birthday anniversary was marked by relatively muted celebrations</a> in December 2013. Many Chinese still admire Mao and most of his policies, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2013%2F12%2F26%2Fworld%2Fasia%2Fmao-120-anniversary%2F">CNN's Beijing Bureau Chief Jaime A. FlorCruz writes</a>. They are considered "leftists" or conservatives because they oppose liberal-thinkers and reformists who in China are deemed rightists.
China today —
China's former leader Mao Zedong's 120th birthday anniversary was marked by relatively muted celebrations in December 2013. Many Chinese still admire Mao and most of his policies, CNN's Beijing Bureau Chief Jaime A. FlorCruz writes. They are considered "leftists" or conservatives because they oppose liberal-thinkers and reformists who in China are deemed rightists.
PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images
China's President Xi Jinping has assumed complete control of China in the past 12 months. One of <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2014%2F01%2F15%2Fworld%2Fasia%2Fchina-year-ahead-xi-jinping-jiang%2Findex.html">Xi's most applauded moves has been an intensified fight against corruption</a>.
China today —
China's President Xi Jinping has assumed complete control of China in the past 12 months. One of Xi's most applauded moves has been an intensified fight against corruption.
MOHD RASFAN/AFP/Getty Images
This picture taken on August 14, 2013 shows smoke rising from a chimney at a coal chemical factory in Huaibei, east China's Anhui province. China has soared almost to the top of the world's economic league tables, but whether the official data underpinning its status can be trusted is a constant headache, analysts say.
China today —
This picture taken on August 14, 2013 shows smoke rising from a chimney at a coal chemical factory in Huaibei, east China's Anhui province. China has soared almost to the top of the world's economic league tables, but whether the official data underpinning its status can be trusted is a constant headache, analysts say.
Villagers stand in front of a "money wall" in Sichuan, China waiting to collect their year-end bonus from their investments in January 2014.
China today —
Villagers stand in front of a "money wall" in Sichuan, China waiting to collect their year-end bonus from their investments in January 2014.
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