Download Core Module 16: Role of Chinese Government in the Economy

regulates the economy.
Core Module 16: Role of Chinese Government in the Economy
Foundation Part: Economic Planning and Regulation
of the Chinese Government
Projected Targets in the Chinese Government’s Work Report
(A)Take note of this
object and its
characteristics.
(C) Pay attention to the
background and the
characteristics of its
features.
(B) Pay attention to
this object and
the words on it.
(D)Pay attention to
what this hand
is doing.
Source:Adapted from a newspaper cartoon on the Mainland, 5 March 2014, with
English translation.
Students’ prior knowledge:
• Basic understanding of the
Chinese economy
• Significant impact of National
People's Congress and the
Chinese People's Political
Consultative Conference
(the so-called China's annual
“two sessions”) on China's
economic planning.
1. What does the hand in the cartoon represent? What is it doing?
• It represents the Chinese government. It is making plans for the Chinese economy.
2. Try to identify the characteristics indicated by labels (A) to (D) to support your answer to
Question 1 and explain your answer.
Expressions and actions of characters
or characteristics of objects
Meaning conveyed by characters or
objects
(A) A green lorry with the letters “GDP” is
China’s gross domestic product (GDP)
is going up steadily, with a focus on
going up the slope.
maintaining growth and pursuing
environmental protection at the same
time (green lorry).
67
Core Module 16: Role of Chinese Government
This worksheet aims to examine how the Chinese government plans and
Expressions and actions of characters
or characteristics of objects
Meaning conveyed by characters or
objects
(B) Arrow with the words “Around 7.5%
The work report of the Chinese
government indicates that the projected
growth in GDP for 2014.”
growth of GDP is targeted at 7.5% in
2014.
Auspicious
clouds represent
"good luck".
(C) Colourful picture, including the sun,
The prospects of China’s economic
development are very bright, and it
blue sky and the Clouds of Fortune.
also pays attention to environmental
protection.
Teachers
may remind
students that
different
newspapers
may evaluate
and view the
Chinese
economic
development
differently.
3. What are the messages that the cartoonist is trying to convey in this cartoon?
• The planned economy of the Chinese government is developing steadily.
• The Chinese government pays attention to environmental protection / sustainable
development.
• China's economic development has a bright future.
4. Based on the cartoon above, what is the cartoonist trying to say about the type of
economic system in China?
 China's economic development is
 China's economic development is
planned by the government.
driven by market forces.
5. Based on what you have learnt in this module, do you agree with the description of
China's economic system in the answer to Question 4? Why?
• Agree.
- Some issues are determined by market mechanisms, but only within the state controlled markets.
Or
• Disagree.
- While the economic policy-making ministries will continue to set general directions
for the economic development, many fundamental economic issues in China are
determined by market mechanisms.
68
(Other reasonable and relevant answers are acceptable.)
6. Based on your answers to the previous questions, what do you think are the challenges
facing China's economic development?
• Increasing production costs and environmental pollution costs.
• Reduced productivity due to ageing population and rising health care costs.
• Competition from other countries.
• Tariffs and other measures imposed by developed countries.
• Unbalanced economic and social development.
(Other reasonable and relevant answers are acceptable.)
Students only need to
identify some concerns.
69
Core Module 16: Role of Chinese Government
- Mixed economic system.