As Itogi writes, even World Bank President James Wolfensohn noted the successes of the Chinese communists last year, promising to "promote China's successful experience" in this area in the countries of Latin America, Asia and Africa.
At the same time, Premier of the State Council of the PRC Wen Jiabao stated that the leadership of the Celestial Empire intends to solve the task of final victory over poverty within ten years. Moreover, the Chinese comrades understand the term "poverty eradication" literally. Since market benefits do not go to depressed regions with unfavorable climate, it means the population should be moved to places suitable for a more or less tolerable life. That is, to fertile lands and cities.
Seven million Chinese will become participants in the new great migration of peoples. Over the years of reforms, the authorities in the Celestial Empire have already conducted a similar experiment with almost three million peasants. As local officials assure, the previous experiment was crowned with 90% success. Again, the positive resettlement experience of the great neighbor comes to the aid of the Chinese. As is known, about 5 million Russian peasants moved to Siberia in the famous Stolypin cars. Of them, only about 20% did not take root in new places.
Resettlement policy is only part of the Celestial Empire's improvement program. The scale of the river diversion project, which suffered a complete fiasco in our country at one time, is no less impressive. These two tasks are closely related. China is acutely short of land suitable for living - a significant part of the PRC's territory in the north and west of the country is occupied by barren deserts. As a result, most of China's huge population is concentrated in the valleys of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, as well as in coastal areas, which creates the problem of overpopulation in these regions. It also carries geopolitical risks in sparsely populated outskirts, for example, related to Uyghur separatism.
With the help of "reforms in nature," the Chinese intend to expand living space in the very near future. Three new canals will connect full-flowing rivers and arid areas in the north. Obviously, the main flow of settlers will also go there, closer to the border with Russia. There are plenty of undeveloped territories here. And there is no competition. Much water has flowed under the bridge since Stolypin's time, and today it is unlikely to get Russians to undertake a great migration. All hope is on the poor Chinese.