China

China’s economy grew by 9.6 percent in the last quarter of 2010, compared to the same period in 2009, despite efforts by the government to rein in economic growth and inflation. This growth cements China’s status as the second-largest economy in 2010, overtaking Japan – which has held the second position for 42 years, the Wall Street Journal says. Japan, however, has yet to release its economic data, the news agency notes.