Taiwan produce exchange in Quanzhou
泉州力造两岸农产品物流转运平台
Photo by Zheng Xiaodong



On June 8 the Quanzhou Fujian-Taiwan Agricultural Produce Exchange opened, coinciding with the launch of direct ferry services between Quanzhou and Kinmen. The Exchange is a major support facility for the First Cross-Strait Agricultural Produce Fair. It is another platform built by Fujian authorities to facilitate the distribution of Taiwanese agricultural produce on the mainland. Seen in the picture is Taipei fish market at the Produce Fair.

 

 

Big numbers

Big numbers 2nd best city
城市宜居指数厦门第二
Ningbo, Xiamen and Chengdu are rated the three best places to live in the newly published 2006 report on the quality of life in Chinese cities. Most of the 20 most livable cities are small and medium-sized coastal cities. Major metropolises such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou received the lowest scores.

RMB 16 million per mu
厦地价新高每亩1600万
At a land auction on the afternoon of June 8, a plot of land in a prime location in Xiamen was sold to Xiamen Xin Xin Jing Di and Yong'an Sheng Real Estate for a price of RMB 585 million, equivalent to RMB 16.3m per mu (15 mu = 1 hectare). Five or six property developers were bidding for the plot.

RMB 20 billion banked
厦门建行个储超200亿
The Xiamen Branch of China Construction Bank recently announced that individual savings deposits with the branch had broken the RMB 20 billion mark, a first in Xiamen. It took 15 years for the branch to reach its first RMB 10 billion and merely four years to reach its second RMB 10 billion in individual deposits.

 

 

Society

Disaster-relief donation hotline
救闽水灾捐赠账号和热线公布
On June 9, the Fujian Provincial Charity Federation delivered RMB 135,000 of food donated by Wangwang Group to the four villages and townships in Ningde municipality which have been hit the hardest by the recent floods. On the same day, the Charity Federation also published the number of a hotline for donation enquiries (0591-87551987) and two bank accounts to which donations can be transferred: Fujian Provincial Charity Federation, Industrial Bank, Daming City, A/C no. 117070152200003083; and Agricultural Bank of China, Gushan, A/C no. 195101040001324.

Awards for hardship postings
重奖基层优秀高校毕业生
The CPC Fujian Provincial Committee recently presented honorary titles and cash awards of RMB 10,000 each to 97 university honors graduates who have contributed five years or more of outstanding public service at the grassroots level or in underdeveloped areas of Fujian. The awards are the first of their kind in China.

741 harmful organisms found
福建口岸截获进境有害生物
Between January and May this year, the Fujian inspection and quarantine authorities intercepted 741 harmful organisms in 165 separate cases of quarantine violations. The officials inspect plants and plant products, vehicles, personal luggage and international parcels. The figures are up nearly 15% over last year.

Xiamen Habitat Exhibition closes
厦门人居展闭幕
The Xiamen Habitat Exhibition closed last Sunday. Over 50,000 people visited for the exhibition, including some from Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Longyan and Sanming. The exhibition included displays of new apartment designs and living concepts in Xiamen.

 

 

Education

College admission rate drops 14%
高考录取率比去年下降14%
College admissions in Fujian Province will be reduced this year despite a higher number of high school graduates taking the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE). Figures published by the Fujian Provincial Admissions Office indicate that 58% of high school graduates taking the NCEE will be accepted by universities, while 50% candidates applying for vocational programs will be enrolled.

Xiamen University evaluated for "211 Project"
厦大"211工程"接受国家评估
On June 10, an expert panel from the Ministry of Education arrived at Xiamen University (XMU) for an evaluation of the institution for the "211 Project". The inspectors will listen to reports, perform on site inspections and interviews and review documents. The 211 project started in 1993, and is a campaign to develop a class of highly skilled knowledge economy workers to drive the growth of China's economy. XMU is one of the hundred or so universities supported as part of the project.

Three foundations aid needy students
三项基金力助贫困生上大学
The Xiamen Education Foundation has announced that this year three foundations will provide financial aid for 180 needy high school graduates with hopes of being accepted by a university. The Xiamen Cigarette Factory Golden Bridge Student Aid Foundation, the Powerlong Education Foundation and the Luda Education Foundation will provide support of between RMB 1,500 and RMB 2,000 to each student.

 

 

Economics

Mislabeling of hazardous products discovered
榕查获危险品违规运输案
On June 9, Fuzhou maritime authorities intercepted a vessel laden with 200 tonnes of expanded polystyrene in eight containers in Fuqing. The vessel's shipping list clearly indicated flammable solid hazardous materials, but the containers had no hazardous materials labels. It is reported to be the largest case in China this year of hazardous materials being transported as common cargo.

300 companies produce half of Fujian output
300强占闽工业半壁江山
On June 3, the Fujian Enterprise Appraisal Center published the 2006 List of the Top 300 Industrial Enterprises in Fujian. The enterprises on the list, constituting 2.4% of the total number of industrial enterprises in Fujian, contribute nearly 50% of the province's total industrial output.

Jinjiang toy testing lab opens
出口玩具检测实验室落户晋江
On June 7, the Jinjiang Inspection & Quarantine Bureau opened a toy testing laboratory. The lab will perform safety tests for toys in line with the safety standards of China, the EU and the US. The opening of the lab will streamline the process of routine and random inspections of toys made in Fujian for the international market.

 

Vocabulary
land auction 土地拍卖
major metropolis 大城市
coincide with 与……相符
in line with 符合