China is home to the fastest-growing economy the world has ever seen. In the face of a crippling global economic downturn, China powered ahead in 2009, driven by big government stimulus programs and large increases in bank lending. And while China isn’t immune to the downturn, it continues to experience impressive growth and resiliency. China and its citizens are growing richer each day. In January, China overtook the U.S. to become the world’s largest auto market. Its entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) and hosting of the 2008 Olympics reflect its growing role on the world economic stage.

China’s stock markets in Shanghai and Shenzhen have responded smartly. Last year, A shares in those cities – which are denominated in local currency and account for the majority of traded China stocks – soared 79.8% and 116.9%, respectively. The broad China market, as measured by the MSCI China Index, returned 62.6%. To be sure, enthusiasm for China’s growth story among investors shows no sign of easing in 2010 as the country looks poised to continue its tremendous three-decade-long expansion. High levels of productivity combined with dramatic increases in domestic consumption from a growing middle class provide solid underpinnings for sustained economic growth.