Economics

US rules against China in TV anti-dumping hearing
我彩电在美反倾销案听证中失利
The United States International Trade Commission ruled in Washington on May 14 in the so-called China TV dumping case that US TV manufacturers had been materially injured by imports of color televisions from China. Thus, China lost the litigation in this trade dispute.

Over 50,000 overseas tourists visited Xiamen in April
4月接待境外游客人次超5万
Following the quick recovery of the domestic and international tour markets, Xiamen received a total of 56,400 tourists from abroad in April, up 317.57% from the same period last year, signifying that the city's markets for domestic tours, outbound international tours and inbound international tours are fully recovering.

 

 

Society

Foreign experts to be recognized with "Egret Friendship Awards"
"白鹭友谊奖"表彰外国专家
In a bid to lure more foreign experts to Xiamen to provide services to the city, local authorities have decided to set up "Egret Friendship Awards" to recognize those with top performances. The awards will be presented every other year. Applications for the awards for this year are now being accepted. Application forms are available on the website of Xiamen Municipal Personnel Bureau (www.xmrs.gov.cn). At present, there are some 140 foreign experts in Xiamen with expert certificates; most of them are working in the fields of culture, sports, education and business.

New labeling system to be used for waste management
我市将启用垃圾分类新标志
In order to bring local waste management practices up to unified national standards, Xiamen will replaced the local garbage sorting labels, which have been in use over the last four years. Recoverable waste, harmful waste and other wastes will be collected with blue, red and gray cans respectively.

Xiamen Port detects the year's first HIV case
厦门口岸检出今年首例艾滋
The AIDS Monitoring Station for Inbound and Outbound Personnel of the Xiamen Inspection and Quarantine Bureau at Xiamen International Airport recently detected a suspected HIV carrier in its routine inspection. Further tests confirmed the suspected case. This was the first detected HIV case at Xiamen Port in this year.

Xiamen to bid for the title of "Water-saving City"
我市将申报节水型城市
Local authorities have decided to use a certain percentage of the RMB 20 million proceeds from increased water fees to reward water-saving users. The city plans to make the entire island (including Gulangyu) meet all requirements for a water-saving city by the end of 2005, with newly built urban districts off the island basically meeting such requirements, in order to pave the way for the city's bidding for the title of a "Water-saving City" at the end of 2006.

Substitute drivers offered in Quanzhou for drunken drivers
泉州出现酒后代驾
"Friendly Warning: It's dangerous to drive after drinking. Our hotel provides, at no cost, substitute drivers to friends who have gotten drunk and may not be able to drive home safely", reads a billboard recently erected in front of a hotel in Quanzhou. This is reportedly the first time substitute drivers have ever been offered in Quanzhou.

White-clothed angels receive ministry medals
白衣天使喜获部级奖章
On May 13, Xiamen's medical sector held a grand ceremony to mark the May 12 International Nurses' Day. A total of 21 nursing workers, including Wu Zhangying and Feng Likun, who have been in active service for more than 30 years, received honor certificates and medals from the Ministry of Health.

Over 1,000 key positions offered
上千重要职位高薪招贤
According to Xiamen Municipal Personnel Bureau, since mid-March, the bureau has collected information on 1,059 important job vacancies from employers throughout the city. These vacancies will soon be opened to highly competent and qualified candidates from home and abroad.

40% imported Japanese medical devices found substandard
日本进口医疗器械四成不达标
Foreign brands are not necessarily a guarantee of quality. According to the Xiamen Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, as many as 40 percent of medical devices imported from Japan may cause safety hazards; most of the substandard devices are of internationally-renowned brands.

 

 

Education

Oral English tests to be administered for graduating primary school students
小学毕业拟增英语口试
According to the Xiamen Educational College, graduating primary school students may be required to take oral English tests starting next year. Educators say that this new requirement is part of the teaching reforms. Three years ago, Xiamen was designated as one of the pilot cities for the experiments of instruction reform; as primary school students do not have English classes until they come to the 3rd grade, primary school students who graduate next year will be the first group of graduates after the instruction reform.

Let's sing in English
英文歌手大赛
On May 14 Xiamen University Jiageng College held its "First Top-Ten Singers in English Contest" on Zhangzhou Campus. 11 students participated and Zhuang Xuanxuan majoring in International Trade came first with her beautifully presented "Eyes on me".

 

 

Special consultants of Common Talk
双语周刊外语顾问团成立

Li Quandian, the General Editor of Xiamen Daily is granting honor certificates to the special consultants of Common Talk, at the awards ceremony of "M-zone" Cup Bilingual Writing Competition on May 16. The special consultants are Bill Brown, Ellen Tann and Ji Yuhua from Xiamen University, Rob Leveillee from Xiamen International School, Mike Selig from WECL College, and Tony Mueller from the Xiamen Educational College.