China, officially the People’s Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia and the world’s most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion people. Covering approximately 9.6 million square kilometers (3.7 million mi²), it is the third-largest country by total area. The country is governed by the Communist Party of China, and its capital city is Beijing.
A land of ancient civilizations and one of the cradles of human civilization, China has some of the world’s earliest known written records – dating back to at least 3,500 BC – and was one of the first countries to develop a centralized government. Since then, China has undergone numerous periods of change and reform, becoming a major regional power in East Asia and later a global superpower. In recent years, it has been increasingly active in international affairs, especially in seeking to expand its economic influence around the world through initiatives such as “One Belt One Road”.
Today, China is home to one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and is frequently referred to as an emerging superpower. It maintains significant influence over global affairs through its membership in various multilateral organizations including the United Nations, WTO, APEC and BRICS; as well as being one of five permanent members on the UN Security Council. It also plays an important role in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Africa through its involvement in multilateral organizations such as CICA and AMFTC .