Interpreting China to the West
Photo by Yao Fan

As one of the four core partners of the EU-funded project Interpreting Asia, Interpreting Europe, ACIT (Accreditation Centre for Interpreters and Translators, Xiamen University) is hosting an intensive weeklong training course on fundamental interpreting skills for people from businesses, education, government offices, and the media. Experienced trainers from ACIT will work hand in hand with two European experts, Professor Jenny Williams and Mary Phelan from Dublin City University, Ireland throughout the training course.

 

 

Economics

Mainland China home to 236,000 millionaires
中国内地百万富翁超过23万
According to the 2004 World Wealth Report issued by Merrill Lynch Investment Bank on June 16, as of the end of 2003, Mainland China had 236,000 millionaires (with possession over one million USD), ranking as the second largest congregation of millionaires in Asia after Japan.

Local property prices continued to drop in May
厦门5月住宅价格续跌
Property prices in Xiamen continued to slide in May, with first-hand residential housing dropping 77 yuan per square meter and second-hand residences decreasing 113 yuan. In May, commercial property averaged 4,801 yuan per square meter, with commercial residence averaging 4,285 per square meter.

Software developer receives overseas order
厦门软件企业海外揽活
A large number of Xiamen-based software developers are eyeing the international software outsourcing market. On June 17, Xiamen Kingtop Information Technology Co., Ltd. received an order for outsourced software worth 15 million yen from Japan Communications Engineering Corporation. Under this order, Kingtop will provide the Japanese company with a management system.

 

 

Society

Local cab drivers vie for title of "Messenger of Civilization"
厦门的哥要评"文明使者"
From June 20, Xiamen Taxi Industry Association will launch a 9-month "Be a Messenger of Civilization" campaign. When the campaign ends, 100 taxi drivers and 100 taxis will be honored as "Messengers of Civilization" and "Vehicles of Civilization".

Illegal hilltop villa demolished
拆除山顶非法别墅
On June 17, a villa which had been built on top of the Xin'an Ridge in Haicang at a cost of over 300,000 yuan was torn down under government order. In the past month, a total of 4,600 square meters of illegally built structures were demolished in the Haicang District.

Truck overloading to be eliminated within 3 years
三年内解决超限超载
From June 20, the city's 11 bureaus and commissions will conduct a joint operation to remove limit-exceeding and overloaded vehicles from the roads within 3 years. They will focus their operations for next year on cracking down on vehicles whose large tonnage has been marked downward and which have been refitted illegally.

Builders' fines up to 20,000 yuan for dust pollution
工地扬尘污染最高罚2万
With the implementation of the Xiamen Environmental Protection Ordinance, dust pollution arising from construction sites will be placed under effective control. Under this Ordinance, any builder who has failed to mend its ways within the specified time limit will face a fine ranging from 2,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan.

Hongshan to build mountainous urban park
鸿山拟建城市山地公园
Xiamen Hongshan Park Master Plan has been reviewed recently by a panel of experts. Under this plan, which is themed on a "Green Shade Leisure Venue", the existing Hongshan Park will be built into a mountainous urban park providing combined functions including culture, education, leisure, recreation and sightseeing.

 

 

Education

Double Chinese and British degrees for journalism majors
赴英学新闻拿两国学位
Under a recently signed agreement between the UK-based Luton University and Xiamen University, freshmen admitted to Xiamen University this year will have an opportunity to join partnership programs between the two universities. Under this agreement, effective immediately, junior students from the Department of Journalism and Communication of Xiamen University can apply for studies at Luton University and acquire bachelor degrees from both universities if they have earned enough credits and completed their thesis at Luton; these students may go on to acquire a master degree from Luton if they choose to continue their studies at Luton in the fourth year.

College students congregate for entrepreneurial skills contest
全国大学生厦大比"创业"
The 4th "Challenge Cup" Chinese College Students Entrepreneurial Plans Contest, organized by the city government and Xiamen University, will soon take place at Xiamen University, with the semi-finals and finals scheduled for July and November respectively.

Used textbooks given away to village kids
旧课本送给乡村孩子
Xiamen Youth League Committee, Xiamen Education Bureau and the Xiamen Working Commission for Youth have jointly launched a campaign to advocate the "continued use of textbooks", encouraging schoolchildren to donate their used textbooks, which will be sorted out by grade and subject and supplied to schools in poverty-stricken areas before the next school year commences.