China in 2020

After three decades of unprecedented economic growth, China is now the world's largest exporter and third-largest economy. It has also become the world's largest carbon emitter and second-largest consumer of energy. Extrapolating from these seismic changes, economist Hu Angang forecasts that by 2020 China will become a "mature, responsible, and attractive superpower" that will contribute, alongside the European Union, to the "end of the unipolar era dominated by the United States." The rapid pace and grand scale of China's rise has produced a heady brew of wonder and consternation in the West. Is China on track to become a superpower? What would that mean for the rest of the world? Hu answers these questions through analysis of three major dimensions of China's rise: its overall economic and social development; advances in education, science, and technology (including alternative energy); and the likely complications posed by resource scarcity, environmental degradation, and climate change. China in 2020 presents a native Chinese perspective on the challenges and opportunities the PRC will face as its global footprint expands. Through a meticulous examination of China's development trajectory, Hu explains how his nation, as the world's largest emerging market, will impact global economic growth, foreign direct investment flows, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions. He proposes a comprehensive strategic framework to guide the next stage of China's rise, seeking to maximize the country's positive impact on the world and minimize the negative externalities of its meteoric development.