Common Talk Weeklyshuang yu zhou kan
issue date


(Photo by Yao Fan)
Moving Xiamen Top 10 unveiled
感动厦门2003十大人物揭晓
Moving Xiamen 2003 Top 10 Persons was formally unveiled on the evening of February 26. William Brown, a foreign expert who has been granted Fujian Province's first permanent residence card and is dedicated to the promotion of local culture, was among the ten awarded. The awarding ceremony party was held at Xiamen Daily Building on the night of the same day.




Economics

Overseas cards usable on local ATMs
境外卡可在ATM上直接取款
In the past, foreigners who were in Xiamen on business or for pleasure had to change their currency into RMB if they wanted to buy something. Now, thanks to the ATM foreign card business launched by the Industrial && Commercial Bank of China Xiamen Branch and the Post Savings Service, they can make withdrawals directly and conveniently from local ATMs (automatic teller’s machines).

Xiamen Port launches first round-the-world sea route
厦门港开通首条环球航线
Xiangyu Container Terminal has recently launched Xiamen Port’s first round-the-world international sea route, which traverses the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans and calls at 23 ports. This is currently one of the longest sea routes offered by Xiamen Port.

Entry requirements eased for hotel and office building developers
建酒店写字楼门槛低了
A decision has been made at the city’s first coordination conference on key foreign-funded projects to increase the amount of land available for the construction of large office buildings and hotels. This new policy is aimed at luring more businesses to set up offices in Xiamen or to strengthen their presence here, as well as attracting more tourists to Xiamen in order to develop stronger and more tourism.

Xiamen Jiansong kicks off construction of new plant
厦门建松新厂开工
Xiamen Jiansong Electronics Co. Ltd. has recently kicked off the construction of a new plant on a 50,000 m2 site in the Torch Hi-tech Development Zone. Meanwhile, the company has inked an agreement with Xiamen University to develop automobile satellite navigation technologies, signaling the company's readiness to make inroads into the domestic automobile electronics industry. Xiamen Jiansong was launched in 1996 by Panasonic Taiwan, which had established a presence in Xiamen as early as 1991.

Global Fujian merchants to meet in Fuzhou in May
全球闽商五月聚首榕城
The 1st World Fujianese Merchants Convention will take place in May 16-17 in the provincial city of Fuzhou. 1,500 people are expected to join the event.

Exported poultry products receive free inspection and quarantine
禽产品出口免费检验检疫
Some countries and regions have lifted bans on the city's poultry products. Starting from February 25, all local poultry products bound for the international market will receive inspection and quarantine free of charge. Total exports of poultry products are expected to exceed USD 17 million this year.


Society

The city’s first emergency liver transplant proved successful
我市首例急诊肝移植成功
Liver transplant, a technically difficult operation that requires intense preparations, has recently been successfully performed by Xiamen No. 1 Hospital on a patient in a critical condition.

Gold versions of Mao Zedong’s handwritten poetry go on sale
毛主席诗词手迹黄金版面市
In commemoration of the 110th anniversary of the birth of Comrade Mao Zedong, China’s first pure gold versions of Mao Zedong’s handwritten poetry were put on sale recently. A limited quantity of 5,000 copies has been issued for overseas and domestic collectors, including 40 for Xiamen, which have a price tag of RMB 18,600 each.

Edible waste grease to be disposed of in designated place
废弃食用油脂将定点处理
“Edible waste grease collected by our plant will be devoted exclusively to industrial purposes, with no single drop sneaking into the catering market.” Tong'an Xingzhong Chemical Plant, the city’s only designated entity for the disposal of waste grease, has recently made this public commitment.


(Photo by Yao Fan)
The opening concert of the 7th Music Season of Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra, held on February 27, won high praise. Under the theme of “Lyric with Romantic”, the repertoire covered music pieces including great disparity in style. Fu Renchang, a young artist who came from Germany, took the baton that night and Huang Bin, a young artist who came from America, played as the violin soloist.


Education

Xiamen Univ. owed RMB 26 million in tuition fees
厦大被学生欠费2600万
Xiamen University, with RMB 26 million owed by students in various fees, has decided that from this semester, students will be registered only after their fees are paid in full. Nevertheless, poor students will still be offered financial help.