The reform that started in late 1978 has turned China into the fastest growing major economy in the world. In 2008, China's GDP grew 9.0% and reached RMB 30.1 trillion (US$4.4 trillion ). In the same year, China's economy was the third-largest economy in the world, 20% larger than Germany's. China is expected to replace Japan as the world's second-largest economy in 2010.
