Common Talk Weeklyshuang yu zhou kan


(Photo by Liang Wei)		   Imported cows face 45-day quarantinear
进口牛先隔离45天

On March 13, 2,667 Australian milk cows arrived at Xiamen Port and were immediately transported to a makeshift isolated quarantine yard for a 45-day quarantine. Media reports indicate that the National Quality Inspection Bureau has approved the construction of three makeshift isolated quarantine yards for imported cattle at Xiamen Port. Two of them are yet to be built.


Economics

Local imports up 30% in first two months
前两月我市进口增三成
Xiamen's imports and exports in the first two months of this year totaled USD 3.17 billion, up 32.5% over the same period last year, including USD 1.75 billion worth of exports and USD 1.42 billion worth of imports. Both imports and exports registered a 30%-plus growth, resulting in a trade surplus of USD 330 million.

Bans lifted on canned mushrooms
蘑菇罐头解禁
Starting on March 1, the US Food && Drug Administration (FDA) has completely lifted its "automatic impoundment" of canned mushrooms from China. As an important port for China's exports of canned mushrooms, the lifting of the ban will provide Xiamen's US-bound exports with a more lenient regulatory environment.

Wal-Mart named "most admired" in domestic markets
沃尔玛国内"最受尊敬"
The List of the Most Admired Companies in China in 2003 has recently been unveiled jointly by the Corporate Cases Management & Research Center of Beijing University and the Economic Observer Press. Wal-Mart China Ltd. appeared on the list and was the only company in the retailing sector to make it to the list.

Group purchase of automobiles heats up
汽车团购成新潮
While group purchase of commercial housing and building materials are all the rage, group purchase of automobiles is rapidly becoming another fad. For consumers, this is obviously a very practical means of consumption, which allows them not only to enjoy competitive prices, but also to increase their knowledge on the subject and make them more confident about their choice.

Bank of China offers Macau dollar wealth management
中行做澳元理财
The Bank of China Xiamen Branch has launched its 3rd "Huijubao" wealth management service, which includes Xiamen's first Macau dollar wealth management product. This new service starts at a minimum amount of 1000 patacas, with an annual earning rate of up to 5%. Under this service, the principal and earnings on the 6-month investment will be credited to the investor's account in one lump sum at the maturity date.


Sports

900 "red caps" to serve marathon
"小红帽"服务马拉松
Out of the more than 2,000 local residents who signed up for voluntary service for the marathon race this year, only 900 have been chosen. These volunteers will provide a diversity of services, including refereeing, interpreting and water supplying, for all stages of the marathon race.

Xiamen to host "marine marathon"
厦将举办"海上马拉松"
In a bid to add to the festivities of the upcoming Xiamen International Marathon Championship, the Bay Cup Around-the-Island Canoeing Marathon Challenge Tournament is scheduled for March 21. Players will start their journey at the Sun Bay, canoeing through Lujiang Avenue, Xiamen Bridge, Jimei Causeway, and end their journey back at the Sun Bay. Canoes will plow the waves within the distance of no more than 300 meters from the shore. The journey will cover exactly 42.5 kilometers.


Education

Sandwich Story Methodology promoted
介绍"三文治故事教学法"
Ji Yuhua, Xiamen University English professor and Dean of the Foreign Languages Department of Jiageng College, promoted his Sandwich Story Methodology at Xiamen Cultural Bookstore on March 14. This is the method invented by Mr. Ji and was listed in 2002 by the Ministry of Education Audio-Visual Press as one of the most famous English-teaching methodologies in contemporary China. This coming autumn, Mr. Ji is going to visit the USA for six months and he will introduce this method to people who find Chinese difficult to learn. He says the sandwich principle works equally well helping English-speaking people to learn Chinese.

Xiamen Translator's Association holds congress
译协代表大会举行
On March 13, the fourth representative congress of Xiamen Translator's Association was held in Mingxiao Hall of Amoy Hotel. Aijing Chen, Head of the Foreign Affairs Office of Xiamen Municipal Government, became the president of the association. The Xiamen Translator's Association have 300 members so far and plays a significant and positive role in serving our city's international economic and trade intercourses, promoting the academic level of translation, training translators and protecting their rights and interests. At present, the association is going to renew the list of members. Both old and new members please go to www.xmta.net to get more information.

Xiamen University to increase allowances to graduate students
厦大提高研究生补贴
From this year on, Xiamen University has earmarked nearly RMB 20 million more funds for the increase of yearly living allowances for its graduate students. Masters candidates and doctoral candidates will receive a monthly allowance of RMB 400 and RMB 600, respectively. In addition to the hike in allowances, more students will have access to living allowances, with all graduate students without any income, including those in Grade 2002, eligible for the increased allowances.