Economy's size doesn't matter

China has overtaken Japan to become the world's second largest economy. But China's steady GDP growth, with a 10.3 percent growth in the first half of 2010, has more of a symbolic significance. China may now be the world's second largest economy, but it is not strong enough, says an article in China Youth. Excerpts:

China was one of the largest economies in the early 19th century, accounting for more than one-fifth of the world GDP. The country has become one of the largest economies in the world again. But it still faces many problems such as poverty and inequitable distribution of wealth.