China is the world's most populous country in the world, with a continuous culture stretching back nearly 4,000 years.

Many of the elements that make up the foundation of the modern world originated in China, including paper, gunpowder, credit banking, the compass and paper money.

After stagnating for two decades under the rigid authoritarianism of early Communist rule, China has emerged in recent years as one of the world's leading powers, its influence growing in the economic rather than military sphere.

In the early 1980s it dismantled collective farming and allowed private enterprise again. Now it is one of the world's top exporters and is attracting record amounts of foreign investment.

China could soon undergo what some see as yet another revolution, now that it has gained admission to the World Trade Organisation. It will benefit from increased access to foreign markets but in return will have to expose itself to competition from abroad.

This is expected to spur private enterprise and hasten the demise of state-run industries, but some Chinese fear it will come at heavy social costs such as unemployment and instability.

The rate of economic change, however, hasn't been matched by political reform, with the Communist Party retaining its monopoly on power and maintaining strict control over the people. The authorities still crack down on any signs of opposition and send outspoken dissidents to labour camps.

Human rights campaigners continue to criticise China for executing hundreds of people every year and for failing to stop torture.

Chinese rule over Tibet remains controversial. Human rights groups have accused the authorities of the systematic destruction of Tibetan Buddhist culture and the persecution of monks loyal to the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader who is campaigning for autonomy within China.