The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) publicized the China Modernization Report 2004 in Beijing recently, according to Science Times. The report points out that China is still in its first modernization development period and belongs to a preliminary developed country.

Chinese scholars proposed the concept of "first modernization and second modernization" in the 1990s. The concept divides the course of modernization since the 18th century into two stages: First modernization is characterized by a developing industrial economy; and second modernization by a developing intellectual economy.

The recently published China Modernization Report 2004 makes its conclusions based on the current conditions of China's first and second modernization. In 2001, the degrees of implementation of China's first and second modernization rank respectively 62nd and 59th among 108 countries that took part in the ranking. The degree of implementation of China's first modernization rose one percentage point in 2002 to reach 79 percent , compared with 2001.

The report also analyzes the degree of modernization implementation in regions across China. According to the report, Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions and Taiwan Province have accomplished their first modernization period. Hong Kong and Macao have entered into the period of second modernization.

The report points out that Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai municipalities have reached the criteria of first modernization in nine aspects. Liaoning Province qualified in seven aspects. Jiangsu, Guangdong and Heilongjiang provinces qualified in six aspects.

Excluding Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, regions ranked in the top 10 with respect to the implementation degree of first modernization in 2002 are Zhejiang, Liaoning, Jiangsu, Heilongjiang, Guangdong, Hubei, Jilin, Shaanxi, Chongqing and Fujian. The first modernization level in these regions is higher than the national average.

The report shows that in 2001, 24 of 131 countries that took part in the appraisal entered second modernization, accounting for 18 percent of the total number of sample countries. The top 10 countries are the United States, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Australia, Japan, Germany and Netherlands. There are 27 countries that have fully realized first modernization and 38 countries that have basically realized first modernization. These countries account for 50 percent of the sample countries.

It is reported that all developed countries have entered second modernization. The medium developed countries have partly entered second modernization, some realizing, or basically realizing, first modernization. Some countries have made progress in the first modernization period, while others stay traditional, agricultural societies. Some ethnic groups still live in what is referred to as a primitive society.

(China.org.cn by Wang Qian and Daragh Moller, February 4, 2004)