主题：中国正式成为世界第二大经济体 -- 笑不拾

Joe Mcdonald, AP Business Writer, On Monday August 16, 2010, 6:25 pm EDT

BEIJING (AP) -- China has eclipsed Japan as the world's second-biggest economy after three decades of blistering growth that put overtaking the U.S. in reach within 10 years.

Japan is still far richer per person after confirming Monday that economic output fell behind its giant neighbor for the three months ending June 30. However, the news is more proof of China's arrival as a force that is altering the global balance of commercial, political and military power.

Analysts are already looking ahead to when China might match the United States in total output -- which the World Bank and others say could be no more than a decade away.