Click here to view Western China The flag was hoisted on Oct. 1, 1949. The red is for communism and the Han Chinese. The large star was originally for the Communist Party, and the smaller stars were for the proletariat, the peasants, the petty bourgeoisie, and the "patriotic capitalists." The large star was later said to stand for China, the smaller stars for minorities.

China Official name: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo (People's Republic of China). Form of government: single-party people's republic with one legislative house (National People's Congress [2,979]). Chief of state: President. Head of government: Premier. Population (1998): 1,242,980,000. Population projection: (2000) 1,263,098,000; (2010) 1,341,848,000. Natural increase rate per 1,000 population (1997): 9.3 (world avg. 15.7). Gross national product (at current market prices; 1996): U.S.$906,079,000,000 (U.S.$750 per capita). Land use (1994): forested 14.0%; meadows and pastures 42.9%; agricultural and under permanent cultivation 10.3%; other 32.8%.

© 2001 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated