Today's Shanghai | News(1998)

1998---January

The computer industry in Shanghai Expects rapid growth in sales and output to continue in 1998.

There is going to be a whole lot of pork in Hong Kong and Macao for Spring Festival, thanks to Shanghai.

Compaq will build new plant in Suzhou--Jiangsu province, pudong in Shanghai, Zibo--Shandong Province and Shenzhen.

Planning on buying a Santana car? This week , the company's models are about 20,0000 yuan ($2,400) cheaper. The price cut does not affect the Model 2000.

A technology company attached to Fudan University has developed more than 20 computer networking products.

Shanghai's largest agricultural wholesale market recently opened in Pudong. The market, which cost 130 million yuan($15.7 million) to build, includes a 20,00-square-meter sport market and a 20,000-square-meter futures market- the first of its kind in China.

Shanghai helps quake victims. Train loaded with clothing and medical supplies is headed to the earthquake area of Hebei Province. The items, worth 2million yuan ($240,000), were donated by business and citizens in Shanghai.

With the nation's biggest shopping season just around the corner, the local government vows there will be an abundant supply of food. Low prices, ample supply will mark Spring Festival.

Shanghai Tyre and Rubber has been awarded a quality certificate from the International Standards, Organization -- a document that is a key to entering the world market.

Nearly 100,000 local people will spend the Chinese lunar New Year holiday -- the longest holiday of the year -- travelling in the country or abroad.

A second office to process visa and residency permits for foreigners will open in Hongqiao area later this year. It is one of the ways the city's immigration office will offer easier and faster service in 1998.

Shanghaimart, the city's largest trading venue, is conducting a survey on five major light industries in East China that focuses on market trends and demand for the next century. The five industries are fashion, gifts, interior decoration, home furniture and electronics.

The agricultural Bank of China, Shanghai Branch, will provide a 100 million yuan ($12 million) line of credit to Tongji Technology and Industry Shareholding Co., ltd.

During the past year Shanghai Customs provided service for more than 4.25 million incoming and outgoing passengers, up 10.9% from last year. Hongqiao Airport has become the largest cargo airport in China.

Shanghai's high-tech telecommunications industry achieved a total output of US$2.2 billion, up 20% from that of last year.

Shanghai's municipal government donated US$120,000 to earthquake victims in Hebei province, Shanghai Charity Fund also gave a donation of US$24,000.

Mayor Xu Kuangdi recently inspected meat-packing factories, supermarkets and shopping centers to check the preparation of various kinds of commodities for the Spring Festival.

Vice-Premier Zhu Rongji told a national banking conference on January 13 that he is confident that China's currency, the yuan, will remain stable, and it will contribute to the stability of other Asian currencies.

The Standing Committee of Shanghai's People's Congress hopes the municipal government will create more jobs for laid-off workers over the next several years.

The city's boom in housing construction is expected to slow down this year, the first drop in six years.

Shanghai No.1 Department Store Shareholding Co., Ltd. recorded more than US$602 million in sales in 1997, ranking first on the list of the top 100 department stores in China.

In 1997, the city's communications infrastructure saw major improvement. So far it has installed 1.2 million mobile phones.

Shanghai is building China's largest port machinery manufacturing base along the Huangpu River to challenge overseas rivals.

Shanghai has established one of the world's most advanced weather surveillance and forecast system, according to a local meteorological official.

Shanghai should accelerate the industrailization of high technology and speed up reforming its science and technology system in 1998, said Gong Xueping, Deputy Secretary of the Shanghai Party Committee.

Pudong's exports grew by 18.3% in 1997 to about US$4.6 billion after two years of decreasing.

Jan. 8, action for Spring Festival shipping is starting. Vice Mayor Mr. Keqiang Xia inspected work at railway station and air port, claimed to provide travelers with safe, orderly, convenient and timely service.

In 1998, there will be 41,000 graduates stepping out of university in Shanghai. Jan.8, Municipal Education Committee held meeting to discuss how to arrange graduates job assignment in good order.

The Ritz-Carlton arrived to take over Shanghai Portman on January 1. The hotel is renamed to Portman Ritz-Carlton Shanghai.

Jan.1, New local teaching regulations took effect as part of Shanghai's efforts to improve the quality of education at city schools. The regulations focused on improving the quality of teachers in the city of raising their wages, protecting their rights, and improving their subsides and pensions.

Jan.1, in Beijing more than 10,000 people climbed the Great Wall to greet the New Year. At the same time in Shanghai, 1,000 people competed to see who could reach the top of the Oriental Pearl Tower first.

According to custom latest statistics, at Shanghai Port in 1997, International trade amount reached US$ 5,868,000,000, covers nearly first-sixth portion of whole nation's.

New Year Greeting from Shanghainese had been sent to all over world. New Year Eve -- '98 Happy New Year, Asian! -- a grand Eve Party filling with Asian friendship, was transmitted directly to over 100 counties and districts via Chinese International Frequency Channel (CCTV4 and CCTV6). It is a brilliant record broken in Shanghai TV history.

The Second Underground Line has being built.

BeiQing Highway, from Shanghai Rainbow Air Port to Suzhou Industry Zone has been open to using since New year's Day.

In 1997, there were 69,420,000 domestic and foreign travelers coming Shanghai. Tourism has been an important economic increasing factor in Shanghai.

While New Year's day coming, Shanghai Library said goodbye to 325, Nanjing Road(W) forever. From now on, Shanghai Library was completely removed into new home, being the first province-class library and information Agency in China.

Municipal Leaders Mr. Huangju and Mr. Jianzhu Men extended festival greeting to retirements at New Year's Day.

Thirty Santana 2000 cars left Shanghai Port for the Philippines on Dec. 31. Last year Shanghai Volkswagen also exported Santanas to Burma, the People's Republic of Korea and Vietnam.

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