As the financial crisis swept the Asia Pacific, China seemed to be the one economy in the region which had been left largely unaffected for various reasons, including its strong economic and financial fundamentals as well as its strong political will to defend the Renminbi, which had so far firmly stood the ground. However, China’s economy ended 1998 with only 7.8 per cent growth, slightly falling short of its officially pledged target of 8 per cent. Though China in 1998 was still rated as the best-performing economy in the region, its economic growth momentum had visibly slowed down. The Asian contagion had finally caught up with China. It is not certain if the Chinese economy is entering a slower growth era though, in the short run, China can boost economic growth by expanding domestic demand. Slower economic growth for the country will have significant negative effects on its economic reform programmes and social stability. This volume constitutes a study of all these issues, and examines the possibilities for the future.