Common Talk Weeklyshuang yu zhou kan
issue date

Economics, society, education
January 7, 2004
Photo by Yao Fan

Economics

Xiamen Customs duties total nearly RMB 10 billion
厦门海关税收近百亿
Xiamen Customs collected a total of RMB 9.75 billion in duties in 2003, up 39% from the previous year and a record high for five consecutive years. Of the total amount, RMB 1.82 billion was the customs duties and RMB 7.93 billion was import linkage taxes.

20,000 new cars hit the road last year
去年新增汽车近２万辆
Statistics from the local vehicle administration authority indicated that in 2003, a total of 19,500 new vehicles were registered in Xiamen, including nearly 9,000 sedan cars, most of which were privately owned.

Wealth management service available
一千美元可理财
On January 5, the Industrial and Commercial Bank offered a foreign exchange assets management and consultancy service to clients who have a minimum amount of USD 1,000. Services provided by this bank include working out foreign exchange wealth management plans for clients and launching foreign exchange asset investment on the client's behalf.

Monthly container throughput exceeds 100,000 TEUs
月吞吐量突破十万标箱
Media reports indicate that the Haitian Container Terminal achieved two major breakthroughs in 2003 — its yearly throughput broke the 1 million TEUs mark and its monthly throughput broke the 100,000 TEUs mark in 2003. These two figures made the Haitian Terminal eligible for a place on the list of the China's top 10 container ports.

Xiamen Airlines stays profitable
去年厦航持续赢利
Despite the impact of the outbreak of SARS in 2003, Xiamen Airlines handled a total of 4.91 million passengers and 78,000 tons of cargoes last year, continuing its record of profits for the 17th straight year.

Technical renovations generate RMB 200 million in benefits
技术创新创效两亿元
In 2003, more than 1,000 local businesses launched various economic and technical renovations, with 264 scientific and technological achievements obtained, worth over RMB 200 million in monetary value.

Society

Jinmen students cross the sea to visit Xiamen
金门学生飞舟探厦门
On January 2, Jinmen Jinning Primary and Middle School Student Delegation, the first group from Jinmen, Taiwan to visit Xiamen in the new year, arrived at the Heping Berth of Xiamen, signifying the commencement of the 3-day graduation travel for the 100-plus graduates. Xiamen has become a leading destination for graduating student travelers from Jinmen.

Nearly 90% medical garbage treated
医疗垃圾处置率近九成
Nearly 90% of garbage from local medical organizations is treated in a centralized location, averaging six tons on a daily basis. Xiamen leads the nation in the treatment of medical garbage.
Individual tours to Singapore become easier
到狮城自助游更便利
Singapore Tourism Board has announced in a recent statement that effective January 1, visa requirements for individual Chinese travelers to Singapore will be eased in a bid to attract more Chinese tourists.

20% price hike for transportation fares during Spring Festival
春运客车票价上浮 20%
Passenger transportation fares during the upcoming Spring Festival will be subject to a maximum 20% hike. However, taxies, passenger buses and medium-sized and mini buses providing passenger transportation services within the administrative region of Xiamen will maintain their current rates with no price increases allowed.

Education

On Jan. 4, 21 students to graduate this year from the dance major at Xiamen Opera & Dance School, China Opera Institution, show their talents at the recruiting meeting. Representatives of over 20 organizations presented the meeting.

Teachers to travel to Britain for training
小学教师赴英培训
In a bid to improve the English skills and English teaching quality of English teachers at local primary schools, starting from February 2004, Xiamen will send 16 teachers to Britain to receive a three-month training.