But compare China today with China in 1985 (the first year the country conducted comprehensive consumer surveys) and it is clear that China's growth has been rapid.

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Ha Jin, who left his native China in 1985 to study at Brandeis University and then remained in the U.S., tells this tale in an impeccably deadpan manner.

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A. If you were among those to get started in business in China between 1985 and 1995, you would have been able to sell just about any product you had because there were shortages and demand was huge.

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In phases since 1985, China has demobilized over two million soldiers.

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It was easy to see a mutually beneficial pattern for commerce between China and the U.S. in 1985, when I moved to the PRC and started my China-centric career.

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Beijing Jeep was a pioneer in China, assembling vehicles there from 1985 to 2009.

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And aside from making a few MD-80s for McDonnell Douglas between 1985 and 1994, the closest China comes to being a manufacturer of big-league commercial aircraft is the Airbus assembly plant in Tianjin, where it puts together A320s from kits.

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The global demand for meat is growing, with China more than doubling its consumption per person since 1985.

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In government, I served as Senior Director of International Economic Affairs at the National Security Council from March 1982 to September 1985 and later served as Chairman of the Congressional U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission until January 2006.

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