China - Arkas Logistics

China's economy has experienced astonishing growth over the past decade, on its way to becoming the world's second largest economy. Since the People's Republic of China embarked on a program of economic reforms in 1978, its total trade figures have increased by between 100 and 4.2 trillion US dollars, surpassing the United States to become the world's first largest economy.

It has become the world's manufacturing center, with growth in the industrial and construction sectors particularly booming in the late 1980s.

Electronic goods and machinery account for 55% of total exports, while textiles account for 13% and construction materials and equipment for 7%. It has also signed many bilateral and multilateral trade agreements opening new markets for its products.

In 2003, China signed the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement with Hong Kong and Macau. A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between China and Asian countries was signed in January 2010, establishing the world's third largest free trade zone.