China, officially known as the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a sovereign state located in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion. China's landscape is vast and diverse, ranging from forest steppes, deserts in places like the Gobi and Taklamakan, to subtropical forests in the south. The Himalayas border China to the southwest, and the world's highest point, Mount Everest, lies on the Sino-Nepalese border. The country's coastline along the Pacific Ocean is 14,500 kilometers long and is bounded by the Bohai, Yellow, East, and South China Seas. The Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, the third and sixth-longest in the world, respectively, run from the Tibetan Plateau to the densely populated eastern seaboard. China's political system is a single-party socialist republic, and its capital is Beijing. China has a rich cultural heritage that dates back thousands of years and is known for its significant contributions to the arts, philosophy, and sciences. The country was one of the earliest centers of human civilization, with one of the world's earliest written language systems. The Chinese economy is the world's second-largest by nominal GDP and the world's largest economy by purchasing power parity. Since the introduction of economic reforms in 1978, China has become one of the world's fastest-growing major economies. As of 2021, it is the world's largest manufacturing economy and exporter of goods. China is also the world's fastest-growing consumer market and second-largest importer of goods. China is a recognized nuclear weapons state and has the world's largest standing army and second-largest defense budget. The PRC is a member of several multilateral and international organizations, including the United Nations, where it has veto power as a permanent member of the Security Council. It is also a member of numerous formal and informal multilateral organizations, including the WTO, APEC, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the BCIM, and the G20. China has been characterized as a potential superpower due to its large economy and powerful military. Despite its rapid economic growth and modernization, China faces several major socioeconomic challenges, including demographic issues brought on by its one-child policy, a growing disparity between urban and rural incomes, and environmental issues stemming from rapid industrialization. Additionally, China's human rights record has been criticized by many international organizations. Nevertheless, the country continues to play a crucial role in global affairs and maintains a significant influence on the world stage.