China continues to gleam with a number of superlatives to its name in 2014. Of the 15 largest world economies, it possesses the highest GDP year-over-year growth rate at 7.8%. It also has the third lowest proportion of debt to GDP at 26%. China is trading partner to the world, with 124 countries identifying China as being their largest trading relationship.

GDP growth, while still torrid compared with that of developing nations, however has fallen off recently from the 10% growth rate achieved many times over the past two decades: 7% to 7.5% may be a more sustainable rate for the next few years. The country is at the outset of a multi-year effort to transform from a producer economy to a consumer led economy, where the service sector will provide growth and stability for the working population.