Although Mao's stated goals of combating bureaucracy, encouraging popular participation, and stressing China's self-reliance are generally seen as laudable — and the rapid industrialization that began during Mao's reign is credited for laying a foundation for China's development in the late 20th century — the harsh methods he used to pursue them, including torture and executions, have been widely rebuked as being ruthless and self-defeating.

Although China's transport system comprises a vast network of transport nodes across its huge territory, the nodes tend to concentrate in the more economically developed coastal areas and inland cities along major rivers.

Although the Chinese invented gunpowder, and firearms had been in continual use in Chinese warfare since as far back as the Song Dynasty, the advent of modern weaponry resulting from the European Industrial Revolution had rendered China's traditionally trained and equipped army and navy obsolete.

Although there were many large and prominent cities during the Tang, the rural and agrarian areas comprised the majority of China's population at some 80 to 90 %.

Although the Xia is an important element in early Chinese history, reliable information on the history of China before 13th century BC can only come from archaeological evidence since China's first established written system on a durable medium, the oracle bone script, did not exist until then.

Although the Song Dynasty had lost control of the traditional birthplace of Chinese civilization along the Yellow River, the Song economy was not in ruins, as the Southern Song Empire contained 60 percent of China's population and a majority of the most productive agricultural land.

Although he trained and organized one of China's first modern armies and introduced far-ranging modernisations in law and social areas, the loyalty Yuan had fostered among his armed forces split into warlords after his death, undermining the authority of the central government.

Taiwan never adopted the Republic of China's market tael of 31. 25 g ; its tael is derived from the tael or ryō of the Japanese system ( equal to 10 momme ) which was 37. 5 g. Although the catty is still frequently used in Taiwan, the tael is only used for precious metals and medicines.

Although the May Fourth Movement did find partial success at removing Chinese traditional culture, there were still proponents who steadfastly argued that China's traditions and values should be the fundamental foundation of the nation.

Although contradictory to Marxism and Maoism in many facets, it was also written into China's Constitution.

Although many believe Hu was originally hand-picked by Deng as the youngest member of China's top leadership and a leading candidate to succeed Jiang, he had exercised a great deal of political skills between 1992 and 2002 to consolidate his position, and eventually emerged as Jiang's heir apparent in his own right.

Although a western-style legal institution and rule of law remain to be put in place, Hu's power succession was conducted in a fairly orderly and civil manner, which was unprecedented in Communist China's history.

Although there are currently over 4, 000 Chinese surnames (, xìng ) in use in China, the colloquial expression for the " Chinese people " is the Bǎi Xìng (, " The Hundred Names ") and a mere hundred surnames still make up over 85 % of China's 1. 3 billion citizens.

Although the Qing Dynasty attempted to modernize the Chinese navy, China's Beiyang Fleet was dealt a severe blow by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the First Sino-Japanese War ( 1894 – 1895 ).

Although Chinese perform rap in different dialects and languages, most Chinese hip hop artists perform in China's most popular language: Mandarin.

Although his ceremonial role as the Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a quasi-consultative upper house in China's political system, makes him fourth in the order of precedence, it is widely accepted that the position has very little power, perhaps the least amount of power in the nine PSC members.

Although it is not a central bank, the Bank of China is licensed to issue banknotes in two of China's Special Administrative Regions.

Although China's space program has existed since 1956, CNSA is a relatively new agency created in 1993 when the Ministry of Aerospace Industry was split into CNSA and the China Aerospace Corporation ( CASC ).

Although Hong Kong is not required to follow the Mainland China's standard, Hong Kong government still decided to use DMB-T / H as the digital television broadcast standard and the official commencement of digital TV broadcasting began at 7 p. m. on December 31, 2007 as the first digital TV signal transmitter in Tsz Wan Shan went online earlier in December.

Although the humanities were considered important, vocational and technical skills were considered paramount for meeting China's modernization goals.

Although the city was traditionally a center for agriculture in the region, the city and surrounding towns have grown quite rapidly during the last decade as the city has benefited greatly from China's industrialization.

Although it is undisputed that the prodigious reputation achieved by Thunderstorm was due in large part to its scandalous public airing of the topic of incest, and many people have pointed out not inconsiderable technical imperfections in its structure, Thunderstorm is nevertheless considered to be a milestone in China's modern theatrical ascendancy.

Although China's agricultural output is the largest in the world, only about 15 % of its total land area can be cultivated.

Although the economy was booming in the region, the business struggled and Lincoln eventually sold his share.

Although the party approved market economy and held favourable views on liberalizations and the privatization of state industries, however AN was to the left of Forza Italia on economic issues and sometimes supported statist policies.

Although trade unions in Benin represent up to 75 % of the formal workforce, the large informal economy has been noted by the International Trade Union Confederation ( ITCU ) to contain ongoing problems, including a lack of women's wage equality, the use of child labour, and the continuing issue of forced labour.

Although Burundi is potentially self-sufficient in food production, the ongoing civil war, overpopulation, and soil erosion have contributed to the contraction of the subsistence economy by 25 % in recent years.

Although Croatian economy had showed signs of recovery in the last quarter of 2010 and officially exited recession in the first quarter of 2011, economic indicators suggest that the recovery may be sluggish with the economy expected to grow by 1. 5-1. 8 % in 2011.

Although the economy operates on a free-market basis, the lack of private and government investment, shortages of skilled labor and experienced managers, and inflation and the devaluation of the Turkish lira continue to plague the economy.

Although the perception by the public may be that the " central bank " controls some or all interest rates and currency rates, economic theory ( and substantial empirical evidence ) shows that it is impossible to do both at once in an open economy.

Although classical liberals aspired to a minimum of state activity, they accepted the principle of government intervention in the economy from the early 19th century with passage of the Factory Acts.

Although perestroika was considered bold in the context of Soviet history, Gorbachev's attempts at economic reform were not radical enough to restart the country's chronically sluggish economy in the late 1980s.

Although tariff cuts that were expected in July 1996 were delayed until 1997, the Government of El Salvador is committed to a free and open economy.

Although Finnish wages and standard of living could not compete with wealthy Sweden until the 1970s, the Finnish economy rose remarkably from the ashes of World War II, resulting in the buildup of another Nordic-style welfare state.

Although government policies supporting large military and internal security forces and allocating resources to key supporters of the Ba ' ath Party government hurt the economy, implementation of the United Nations ' corruption-plagued oil-for-food program in December 1996 was to have improved conditions for the average Iraqi citizen.

Although the Indian economy enjoyed a steady rate of growth at 2. 5 % per annum ( mocked by leftist economist Raj Krishna as a " Hindu rate of growth "), chronic unemployment amidst widespread poverty continued to plague the population.

Although Vietnam's historical record of leadership in the revolution and its military power and proximity will not cease to exist, Laos struck out ahead of Vietnam with its New Economic Mechanism to introduce market mechanisms into its economy.

Although Luxembourg in tourist literature is aptly called the " Green Heart of Europe ", its pastoral land coexists with a highly industrialized and export-intensive economy.

Although most felt the Russian Revolution was working class in character, they believed that, since capitalist relations still existed ( because the workers had no say in running the economy ), the Soviet Union ended up as a state capitalist country, with the state replacing the individual capitalist.

Although Macau was hit hard by the 1997 – 98 Asian financial crisis and the global downturn in 2001, its economy grew approximately 13. 1 % annually on average between 2001 and 2006.

Although banned in 1953, France was obliged to grant Morocco independence on March 2, 1956, leaving behind them a legacy of urbanisation and the beginnings of an industrial economy.

Although no longer a member of the OAU ( Organisation of African Unity ) since November 12, 1984 — following the admission of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic as the government of Western Sahara — Morocco remains involved in developing the regional economy, as the city of Casablanca contains North Africa's busiest port and serves as the country's economic center.

Although the economy of Moncton was traumatized twice — by the collapse of the shipbuilding industry in the 1860s and by the closure of the CNR locomotive shops in the 1980s — the city was able to rebound strongly on both occasions.

Although China remained as Pyongyang's main ally, the two communist countries no longer bore much resemblance to each other or to their own past in terms of appearance, the economy, and each other's society.

Although there have been scattered and limited attempts at decentralization, as of mid-1993, Pyongyang's basic adherence to a rigid centrally planned economy continues, as does its reliance on fundamentally non-pecuniary incentives.

Although her economy and technology could not have supported it, Nigeria announced to a bewildered international community that she was launching a nuclear program of " unlimited scope " of her own.