GDP in 2008: $1.26 trillion

GDP per capita in 2008: $6,626

Growth rate in 2008: 5.1 percent

Foreign trade volume in 2008: $371 billion

Foreign exchange reserves by the end of 2008: $187 billion

Foreign investment: Foreign direct investment amounted to $45 billion in 2008, which set a new record.

Competitiveness

-The 10th largest economy in the world

-Has the largest iron ore reserves and the largest tropical

rain forest in the world

-The largest oil producer in Latin America

-A major agricultural producer of soy, meat, sugar, fruit

and vegetables

-Major sectors: Automobiles and parts, machinery and equipment, steel, textiles, shoes, cement, lumber and iron ore

-Wants to be the largest renewable energy exporter in the world and is adopting ethanol instead of oil.

Measures taken to deal with the financial crisis:

The Brazilian Government has taken active measures to expand domestic demand and bail out failing enterprises. The Brazilian Central Bank sold part of its U.S. dollar reserves to prevent the Brazilian currency, the real, from rapid depreciation and lowered interest rates to enhance capital liquidity. The Brazilian Government created a policy to reduce the taxes of and increase loans for troubled enterprises and help them repay foreign loans with the government's foreign exchange reserves. The government also has expanded its investments in transportation, energy and infrastructure.

Russia

GDP in 2008: $1.71 trillion

GDP per capita in 2008: $9,954

Growth rate in 2008: 5.6 percent

Foreign trade volume in 2008: $735 billion

Foreign exchange reserves by the end of 2008: $396 billion

Foreign investment: Its major investors are from Cyprus,

the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Britain. The main industries for foreign investment are processing, wholesale, retail and mining industries.

Competitiveness

-Covers more than one ninth of the world's land area

-Has the greatest mineral resource reserves in the world

-Has the world's largest natural gas reserves

-Has the second largest coal reserves and the eighth largest oil reserves

-Has one fourth of world's total lumber reserve of about 82 billion cubic meters

-Has the largest freshwater reserve of about 60 trillion cubic meters

-Has a long tradition of education, science and industry

Measures taken to deal with the financial crisis:

The Russian Duma and government promulgated a series of laws and regulations and adopted various measures to support the financial sector and enterprises, such as guaranteeing loans, injecting new funds into the securities market, and helping enterprises repay foreign loans. Measures also have been taken to bail out the country's agriculture, energy, automobile and other pillar industries. In addition, the Russian Government has increased unemployment subsidies, pensions and salaries for state workers.

India

GDP in 2008: $1.24 trillion

GDP per capita in 2008: $2,787

Growth rate in 2008: 7 percent

Foreign trade volume in 2008: $463 billion

Foreign exchange reserves by the end of 2008: $279.5 billion

Foreign investment: $52.5 billion as of 2007. Foreign investment is welcome in almost all sectors, except those of strategic concern such as defense and atomic energy. Since 1991, sectors such as automobiles, chemicals, food processing, oil and natural gas, petrochemicals, power, services, and telecommunications have attracted considerable investments.

Competitiveness

-The Indian software industry has developed skill and expertise in areas such as the design and implementation of management information and decision support systems, banking, insurance and financial applications, artificial intelligence and fifth-generation computer operating systems.

-Agriculture plays a vital role in India's economy.

About 70 percent of the country's total population is engaged in agriculture.

-Major industries include aircraft, shipping, automobiles, locomotives and heavy electrical machinery.

-Key industries are steel, engineering and machine tools, electronics and software.

Measures taken to deal with the financial crisis:

First, the Indian Government took measures to increase people's purchasing power. Second, it increased investment in infrastructure. Third, the Indian Government attached great importance to agriculture and people's livelihoods. Fourth, the country is striving to develop high quality "made-in-India" products.

(Sources: The Brazilian, Russian and Indian embassies in Beijing, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily Online and China's Ministry of Commerce)