China plays important role in world trade

China has also taken on an increasingly important role in world trade. Total volume of imports and exports accounted for more than 8 percent of the world's total in 2008. And according to forecasts from the Organization of Economic Cooperation & Development, that figure could increase to 10 percent when the global economy makes a full recovery.

Meanwhile, China has emerged as one of the world's most prolific manufacturers. It produces nearly half of the globe's shoes, as well as clothes, household gadgets, toys, appliances, and furniture.

What would the world look like without Chinese products? The following story gives us a hint of what that would be. U.S. journalist Sara Bongiorni's family made an attempt to live without products from the world's biggest manufacturer for a whole year. She wanted to see if it could be done, but found that it was not an easy task. She documented the project in a book called, "A Year Without "Made in China" - One Family's True Life Adventure In The Global Economy."