Compete, translate, go
Article and photo by Gene Crutsinger



The Jiageng College of Xiamen University held a translating and interpreting contest on Monday, April 5. This innovative "Chinese-English Translating & Interpreting Contest" is believed to be the first of its kind in Fujian colleges or universities.

Fourteen first-year students from Xiamen University Jiageng College spoke before a panel of four judges. Each contestant listened to a passage read in English and translated it into Chinese. Then they listened to a passage in Chinese and translated that into English. Time was very limited, but the contestants impressed the panel with their quick responses and flexibility in translating and interpreting in both languages.

 

Economics

Photo by Yao Fan From 8th till 11th this month, 2004 Xiamen Automobile Cultural Festival, sponsored by Xiamen Autombile Circulation Association and Xiamen Daily, was held at Xiamen Sports Center. Over 20 automobile sellers attended with more than 60 new-style cars on sale. Trial drivings were provided on the spot.

Amoi sets up R&D base in Shanghai
夏新在沪建设研发基地
Amoi Shanghai Research Institute, another important base for technological innovations for China's 3C industries, has officially started operation in Zhangjiang High-tech Park in Shanghai. Under its current planning, Amoi Shanghai Research Institute will focus its R&D efforts on mobile phones, TV sets and laptop computers.

South Fujian's largest automobile market to be based in Maxiang
闽南最大汽车市场落户马巷
The Automobile Transaction Center, the Phase I Project of Xiamen International Automobile Industrialization Base, has recently witnessed its groundbreaking ceremony at Maxiang Town, Xiang'an District. The center, upon its completion, is expected to have an annual business turnover in excess of RMB 10 billion.

Xiamen to have another world-class mall
厦又添一世界级大卖场
Following the signing of a formal agreement between OBI, the world's leading chain group in the building material sector, and Xiamen Mingfa Group late last year, Carrefour, a France-headquartered internationally renowned retailer and Fortune 500 company, has recently signed an agreement with Mingfa Group to establish a presence in Mingfa Commercial Plaza.

Xiamen shipbuilder builds largest ever vessel in Fujian
厦船重工驶出福建第一船
"Xiamen Sea", a 53,800-tonnage double-hull bulk cargo vessel and so far the largest vessel ever built in Fujian Province, has been launched from the slipway of its builder— Xiamen Shipping Vessel Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., marking a new chapter in the province's vessel-building history.

Top Earners in Xiamen
厦门哪一行收入最高
Statistics from the city's Statistics Bureau indicate that the average annual income of city's urban workers hit a record high in 2003, reaching RMB19,024 (averaging RMB 1,585 per worker per month), up RMB 1,173 from the previous year (representing an average increase of RMB 97 per person per month), with the tobacco industry being the top earner (with an average monthly income of RMB 4,554), trailed by the banking industry (with an average monthly income of RMB 3,924) and the telecom industry (with an average monthly income of RMB 3,917).

 

Education

Xiamen becomes important Chinese language education base
厦门成为重要华语教育基地
Recently, 294 Filipino students arrived at Xiamen University's Overseas Education College to attend Chinese language and culture courses. Media reports indicate that this is the third time that overseas Chinese in the Philippines have sent students to receive Chinese language and culture education in Xiamen. Thanks to its fine reputation among overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia and its strong growth momentum in Chinese language education, Xiamen University's Overseas Education College was accredited by the Ministry of Education in 2001 as one of the 10 key national schools for the promotion of Chinese language teaching for neighboring countries.

Xiamen University completes construction of Fujian's best swimming pool
厦大建成全省最好游泳馆
Xiamen University has recently concluded the construction of Wang Qingming Swimming Pool, which is located at its west gate. The swimming pool, with a floorage of 8,250 square meters and containing a wide range of swimming, fitness and table tennis facilities, is intended for physical education, sports competitions and extra-curricular exercises only and will not be opened to the public in the immediate future.

 

Society

Overseas bank cards usable in Xiamen
境外卡厦门也能刷
Foreigners who settle down in or travel to Xiamen on business or for pleasure are now allowed to use their overseas bank cards on POS machines in Xiamen for purchase and service payments and even withdraw cash from ATMs. At present, nearly 100 business establishments in Xiamen have POS machines that accept overseas cards. The Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, Xiamen Branch and Postal Savings Service now have 160 ATMs that accept withdrawals and enquires by overseas bank cards.

Xiamen's registered permanent population hits 2.17 mln
去年我市常住人口217万
Data collected by the Xiamen Statistics Bureau from random surveys on the demographic changes in Xiamen, indicate that the city's registered permanent population stood at 2.17 million in 2003, up 120,000 from 2000. They also found that the number of people with Xiamen household registration totaled 1.41 million, up 46,000 from a year earlier.