Labor Contract Law takes effect

The law sought to formalize employment contracts and strengthen worker protections after years of flexible hiring and restructuring. Employers and workers contested its scope; legal protections...

The law established rules against monopolistic conduct and administrative barriers, and created a framework for competition policy. It applied to market actors within a state-led economy where state...

The rollout extended fee exemptions to rural pupils across the country. It widened access but did not erase disparities in school resources, teacher retention or the services available to children...

The congress emphasized balanced development and a more “people-centered” growth model. It signaled recognition of regional and social costs without reversing export- and investment-led growth or...

The new 25 percent standard rate applied to domestic and foreign-funded enterprises, with transitional treatment for some existing incentives. The reform standardized formal rules but altered the...

The earthquake devastated communities and infrastructure, leading to a large state-directed reconstruction program. Recovery mobilized public resources but also raised questions about relocation,...

By mid-2008 the subsidized rural health program covered all provincial-level regions. Broader enrollment improved access to reimbursement, but financing levels and medical services still differed...

The law began regulating monopoly agreements, abuse of dominance and concentrations of business operators. Its implementation tested how competition rules would apply to private firms, foreign...

The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers accelerated a global contraction that sharply reduced demand for Chinese exports. The crisis exposed the risks of relying on external markets and export...

The government announced a 4 trillion yuan package focused on infrastructure, housing, transport and social projects to counter the global downturn. It sustained growth and employment, but leaned...