China’s economy has continued to feel the brunt of the global crisis. Global economic activity continued to decline in the first part of 2009, even as tentative signs of stabilization have emerged recently in several countries.

However, very expansionary fiscal and monetary policies have kept the economy growing respectably. Fiscal stimulus is centered on the infrastructure-oriented “RMB 4 trillion” stimulus plan and the monetary stimulus has led to a surge in new bank lending. Government-influenced investment has soared. Market-based investment has lagged, although positive signs have emerged in the real estate sector. Consumption has held up well. Very weak exports have continued to be the main drag on growth, but import volumes have recovered in the second quarter of 2009 as raw material imports rebounded.

Meet refugee and immigrant community leaders & members, policymakers, educators, health & human service advocates, funders and others in a compelling dialogue at civic rights & responsibilities: A Refugee & Immigrant Journey, a CAPI event at the Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota. 

By Vivian Po, New America Media

SAN FRANCISCO – At [a] special briefing organized by New America Media, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on [June 22] compared the current turmoil in the streets of Iran to the Chinese government’s crackdown on Tiananmen Square protesters 20 years ago.

Mary Warpeha spent a month in China (from March 20 to April 22) teaching a class on American Culture at Beijing Royal School to students who hope to attend American universities. She captured her experience in words and pictures. Just a few of the many photos of her journey are represented here.To learn more about her stay in China, visit her blog and online photo albums.

By Liu Qiong, China Today

With 6.1 million graduates around the country, job fairs are always packed. 

After walking out of a job fair at Peking University, Che Xinglai shook his head disappointedly and told the reporter, "Nothing gained." Che Xinglai is a physics doctoral candidate from Tsinghua University, who will graduate in July. Like most of his classmates, he began crisscrossing Beijing campus job fairs at the beginning of the 2008 autumn semester.

By Albert Leung, Staff Writer

Minneapolis-based clinical research facility Prism Research is embarking on an extensive study which they hope will lead to understanding how to dose drugs more accurately for Chinese patients. Researchers will be studying two liver enzyme sets that effects how fast or slow the body can eliminate drugs in its system.

By Grace Rybak, Breck School Senior

Group photo of Breck Student & Parent Group with their hosts at Harbin No. 1 High School

Chinese high schools differ from American high schools in many ways, primarily in structure. A Chinese school day is much longer than an American school day. While American students usually attend school for about seven hours each weekday, Chinese students spend much more time in school. For example, at Harbin Number One High School, students begin school at 7:00 a.m., and remain until 8:20 p.m. The seniors, preparing for their final examinations, stay later, even until 10:00 at night.