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Patrick Chovanec
The Nine Nations of China
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This text is part of an interactive
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This week, President Obama makes his first state visit to China.
What kind of country will he find there? We tend to imagine China as a
monolith: 1.3 billion people sharing the same language, history, and
culture. The truth is far more interesting. China is a mosaic of
several distinct regions, each with its own resources, dynamics, and
historical character.
As a traveler, teacher, and professional investor who has been
exploring China since 1986, I’ve come to think of these regions as the
Nine Nations of China (inspired, in part, by Joel Garreau’s Nine Nations of North America). Taken individually, these “nations” would account for eight of the 20 most populous countries in the world.
As China’s economy becomes more integrated, these regional
differences are taking on greater importance than ever before. Each of
the Nine Nations faces a unique set of challenges and opportunities in
carving out its own competitive niche. Anyone who wants to do business
in China, make policy towards China, or simply comprehend the dramatic
changes happening there should understand the Nine Nations and the role
each of them is playing in shaping China’s future.texte original complet
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