V. World Modernization Evaluation

The world modernization index reflects the modernization level of 131 countries, of different country groups and of the average of the world, including the degree of the realization of the world’s first modernization, the second modernization index and the index of integrated modernization level. It reflects the integrated level of world modernization in the fields of economy, society and knowledge.

1. World modernization Indexes in 2006

By 2006, 29 countries, including the US, had started the second modernization, taking up about 22% of the total number of country samples; 35 countries like Czech had fully completed the first modernization, and 40 countries had basically realized the first modernization, the total of these two parts covering 57% of the number of country samples.

In 2006, 20 nations like Sweden were listed among developed countries; 25 countries including Italy were regarded as moderately developed countries; 37 countries like China were deemed primarily developed countries; and 49 countries like India were underdeveloped countries.

In 2006, the Top 10 Countries in the evaluation of the second modernization index were: the US, Sweden, Japan, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Australia, Switzerland, Korea and Canada.

2. China’s modernization Indexes in 2006/2007

In 2006, China was a primarily developed country. In 2006, China achieved 87% of its first modernization, ranking the 56th among the 108 countries in the world; China’s second modernization index was 40, ranking the 51st among 108 countries; China’s integrated modernization level index was 38, ranking the 59th among 108 countries. The ranking of integrated modernization level index in 2006 fell by 4 places compared with 2005. In 2007, China achieved 88% of its first modernization.

3. Regional modernization Indexes in China in 2006/2007

In 2007, among province-level regions in China mainland, Shanghai and Beijing got 100% of the first modernization; 6 regions including Tianjin reached more than 90% of their first modernization; 19 regions like Shandong achieved 80% to 89%; and 4 regions including Guangxi achieved 74% to 79%. Tianjin, Zhejiang, Guangdong and Jiangsu provinces had 8 indexes for the evaluation of the first modernization up to the standard; Liaoning, Jilin, Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang had 7; and Fujian, Shandong, Chongqing, Hubei, Shanxi, Hebei and Shanxi had 6. Compared with 2006, in 2007, 6 regions like Xinjiang saw higher ranking for their fulfillment degrees of the first modernization; 6 regions including Jiangxi witnessed lower rankings; and 19 regions including Beijing stayed at the same places.

If Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, HK, Macao and Taiwan are excluded from the ranking, in 2007, the Top 10 regions in the realization of the first modernization were: Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Fujian, Liaoning, Shandong, Chongqing, Hubei, Jilin and Inner Mongolia.

In 2006, Beijing and Shanghai entered the second modernization among all province-level regions in China mainland. According to the grouping for the second modernization index, in 2006, among all province-level regions in China mainland , there were 6 developed and moderately developed regions, 22 primarily developed regions, and 3 underdeveloped regions. In 2006, most parts of China were developing regions.

The modernization levels of HK, Macao and Taiwan are in a leading position in China. HK, Macao and Taiwan have all achieved 100% of the first modernization and started the second modernization. And HK and Macao have entered the developing stage of the second modernization, while Taiwan has entered the starting stage.

Before the 18th century, Chinese culture was no doubt a world advanced culture at that time. Between the 19th and 20th centuries, Chinese culture became lagged behind the world industrial culture. In the era of agricultural civilization, the Chinese nation was a creator of agricultural culture. In the era of industrial civilization, the Chinese nation was a learner of industrial culture. And in the era of knowledge civilization, the Chinese nation will become a pioneer of the advanced culture. The 21st century will be the century for the comprehensive re-flourish of Chinese culture, and also the time for the revival of the Chinese nation. Wish Chinese culture lighten the world and Chinese innovation benefited the globe.

Research Group of China Modernization Strategy,

China Center for Modernization Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Following is the catalogue of China Modernization Report 2009.

(China Development Gateway February 24, 2009)