As China charged into the new millennium its economic prosperity has not been diminished. Even when the rest of the world hovered at the brink of recession China continued to record some of the world's highest economic growth rates and today there are no immediate signs that this will change. Export numbers continue to remain strong and the world's consumer markets are getting used to seeing and accepting the "Made in China" label on an increasing number of electronics goods. Although the Communist Party remains in power and China remains a one party state, China's stock markets are already amongst the largest in the world having come from nowhere in the past eight years. Chinese companies are listed on stock exchanges in New York, London and Hong Kong and the economy has undergone a process of globalisation. China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001 and is a member of the United Nations' Security Council. China's football team played in the 2002 World Cup, which was a first, whilst China was selected as the host country for the 2008 Olympic Games. In 2010, Shanghai proudly hosted the World Expo, attracting 73 million visitors! China is also keen to boost its standing within the international arts community and in 1998 staged a production of Puccini's Turandot in the Forbidden City whilst in June 2001 hosted The Three Tenors. A clear liberalization of what can be called artistic expression is allowing the arts to once again move forward. China, pursuing its policy of 'Socialism with Chinese Characteristics', has made tremendous progress in all aspects of its economy, sports and the arts and the trend is only likely to continue. At times China comes across as being more capitalist than many western countries! There is obviously a downside to such rapid economic growth and this presents problems for the government, although it is endeavouring to address them. Problem areas continue to lie in the geographical inequality of economic growth - the main urban centres and south east coast have all benefited from foreign investment whereas the west of China and the rural areas have lagged behind in investment commitments whilst poverty and unemployment levels remain very high. To address this, the government has launched its 'Go West Campaign' which offers tax breaks and other incentives to companies that invest and create jobs in these relatively remote regions. Poverty and at times over zealous crackdowns on minority religions have ignited a number of flare-ups with Tibet and Xinjiang (on the Silk Road in the far North West) being the worst affected. China has 55 minority groups (half of which are in Yunnan Province) and managing minority relationships is becoming ever more complex. Along with unemployment, poverty and the plight of migrant labourers other problem areas are environmental, as a result of old coal power stations being required to churn out ever higher levels of power and old state owned factories not upgrading their manufacturing processes. Meanwhile, corruption has caused some unhappy incidents with a number of buildings and bridges collapsing as a result of foundation works not been properly done. China is acting very strongly against anyone being caught committing large-scale corruption - a bullet in the head is the punishment! Natural disasters occur from time to time and with China's large landmass covering so many climate zones are unfortunately inevitable. Two of the main problems the country faces are flooding, particularly in the Yangtze River basin and the effects from below normal temperatures in Inner Mongolia and the north-eastern provinces. To anyone that hasn't visited China in five or so years the most noticeable changes are at street level, for example the number of western fast food outlets, almost everyone in the cities having mobile phones and that horns on Mopeds are becoming more common than the 'ding-a-ling' of bike bells. The changes to the fabric of urban society have been just as remarkable as China continues its pursuit of economic growth. Deng Xioping's 1993 comment "to be rich is glorious" has truly been taken to heart by legions of city slickers.