Analyse the political and socio cultural

environment of China and South Asian

countries. Also discuss the impact of
COVID -19 pandemic to the economy of
these countries.

South Asia is a region known for its geographical and cultural diversities, which play a
significant role in the understanding of the gender development of the region. The South
Asia nations are India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, as well as the island nations
of Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The geophysical diversity of the region includes the
existence of the highest mountains and largest mangrove forests in the world, the tenthlargest
desert on Earth.

Talking about the political and socio-economic scenario of South Asia, it is a region full of
complexities where the traditional and modern features that coexist. The main complexity of
the region is well reflected in the political regime and the socioeconomic parameter of South
Asian countries also varies with the regional diversity.

Takilng about china political environment

 China is the second largest global economy, the largest exporter and has the largest
exchange reserves in the world. And its political system is based on is based on the
semi-presidential socialist republic, whichis run by a single party, namely the
Communist Party of China.
 According to the Constitution, the Council is 'the Supreme Administrative Body' of
the Chinese Government, even if the majority of important measures are decided by
the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The president is the head of state and is elected by the National People's Assembly. In
general, he is also the general secretary of the Communist Party. He represents China
in international institutions.
  The prime minister directs and controls government action, assisted by four deputy
prime ministers. The State Council also includes 5 state councillors, who, like deputy
prime ministers, have jurisdiction over several ministerial departments or
commissions. The Secretary General of the Government is also a member of the State
Council.

Socio -cultural environment

 China is making progress by leaps and bounds and is well on its way to becoming a
global leader in science and technology. With an extremely competitive academic
culture and cultural norms that varied completely from what was considered ethical in
the West. Chinese cultural norms on the attitude of academics.
 Respecting older people or those in a position of authority is encouraged in China.
 Many Chinese institutions encourage their faculty to get published in international,
peer-reviewed journals with high impact factors and even provide monetary
incentives.The Chinese perceive academic excellence as a mark of an individual’s
worth.
 A survey indicated that nearly 40% of Chinese doctors are likely to commit fraud
under extreme pressure. The race to attain leadership in science and technology has
led to a competitive and unhealthy academic culture.

South Asia has an unusually high number of ethnic, cultural and linguistic groups. Though
this contributes to the rich diversity of the region, it is also the source of structural violence,
which impacted upon the gender development issue as a whole. In the Asian context the links
between women’s rights and human rights movements has been hindered somewhat by the
belief that the Asian values which are based upon community rights are incompatible with
western notions of rights. In the countries of South Asia with a strong religious tradition
which is integrated into state administration and governance the notion of human rights is
directly related to religion and cultural traditions.

South Asia has emerged as the poorest, most illiterate, most malnourished, and least gender
sensitive region.’5 South Asia comprises of such countries where gender disparities could be
found in every aspect. In fact, South Asian women are commonly portrayed as among the
most oppressed peoples in the world. Indeed, the experiences of the majority of women of the
subcontinent are grounded in both poverty and patriarchy.6 It has rightly been observed in the
Human Development in South Asia 2000 that, ‘Both South Asian women and South Asian
societies as a whole suffer due to the low status accorded to women’

Due to covid-19,

South Asia’s economic outlook is very depressing The region is set to plunge in 2020 into its
worst-ever recession as the devastating impacts of COVID-19 on South Asian economies
linger on, taking a disproportionate toll on informal workers and pushing millions of South
Asians into extreme poverty.

A regional growth is expected to contract by 7.7 percent in 2020, after topping 6 percent
annually in the past five years. India’s economy, the region’s largest, is expected to contract
by 9.6 percent in the fiscal year that started in March 2020. Regional growth is projected to
rebound to 4.5 percent in 2021. Factoring in population growth, however, income-per-capita
in the region will remain 6 percent below 2019 estimates, indicating that the expected
rebound will not offset the lasting economic damage caused by the pandemic.

In previous recessions, falling investment and exports led the downturn. This time is
different, as private consumption, traditionally the backbone of demand in South Asia and a
core indicator of economic welfare, will decline by more than 10 percent, further spiking
poverty rates. 

The political dynamics had a major impact on the Chinese economy in 2019. The government
has consequently reinforced the official political rhetoric and control, both internally and in
terms of foreign policy. In January 2020, China and the USA finally signed a trade
agreement, announcing a truce that could ease the protracted economic war between the two
powers. China has committed to buying $200bn of US goods and services, increasing
purchases of agriculture, manufacturing, energy and services. Nonetheless, both US and
China will maintain the majority of tariffs on each other's imported goods. The spread of a
novel coronavirus epidemic from Wuhan, is likely to complicate China's purchase plans
under the "phase one" US-China trade deal.
China's current leader, Xi Jinping, holds a triple title as CCP general secretary, Central
MilitaryCommission chairman and state president. After assuming these functions in
2012-13, he was reappointed to them in 2017-18. Following the abolition of presidential term
limits in early 2018, is set to keep them beyond.

 The forecast is given below ;

Source: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/sar/overview