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1998---March




  • The Central Bank recently announced its plan to reduce saving rate by 0.16% and loan rate by 0.6%. The new rates became effective on March 25.

  • White pollution, the environmental term describing the scattering of millions of plastic snack boxes, is expected to be alleviated with the introduction of paper-pulp boxes.

  • A merge between East China Architecture Institute and Shanghai Architecture Institute is underway. The two famous giants in building-designing will form a group company under the name of Shanghai Modern Architecture (Group) Co.

  • It has been 10 years since the city first issued welfare lottery tickets. So far it has collected more than US$49 million and helped thousands of physically challenged people.

  • Shanghai will tentatively adopt a new college entrance-examination system under which the student is required to sit in for three basic subjects (Chinese, Maths and English) and additional subject chosen by the student himself.

  • Shanghai plans to set up 50 industrial projects in provinces throughout China as part of the city's strategy to promote economic development in other parts of the country.

  • The city will launch 10 key projects this year as part of its three- year program to update local industries which include the production of air -conditioner compressor, ethylene, large turbines, power generators, carbon black, etc.

  • A recent survey shows that 87% of Shanghai citizens have received at least a primary school education. This is higher than the national average of 76%.

  • This year the senior middle schools in Shanghai will enrol about 72,000 junior middle school graduates. And the key senior middle schools (opposed to ordinary) will enrol 15% students with recommendations.

  • Shanghai's New Huangpu Group, one of the biggest real estate developers, has promised to exchange its 300 apartments for Fudan University's achievements in scientific research.

  • March 22 is the World Water Day. Government leaders have emphasized the importance of the reasonable use of water resources.

  • Premier Zhu Rongji said in a press conference that the main task of this administration will be science & technology and education.

  • The first phase of 98-kilometer Outer Ring Road will open to traffic at the end of this year. The new road is expected to alleviate the heavy traffic flow between urban areas and the suburbs.

  • The weather plunged suddenly, and the drop reached 10 degrees Centigrade. Snow started to fell in the afternoon of March 20, which is a rare sight in the middle part of march.

  • Zhu Rongji was elected premier on March 17. A new cabinet was formed the next day. The vice-premiers include Li Lanqing, Qian Qichen, Wu Bangguo and Wen Jiabao.

  • The 5th Stonetech Shanghai '98 will be held at Shanghai Exhibition Center from April 1 to 4, which will mainly feature granite products.

  • In the first two months this year, Shanghai's GDP reached US$5.8 billion, up 7.7% from that of last year.

  • The country's central family-planning committee has announced its target of population-control: within 1.3 billion by the end of 2000 and 1.4 billion by the end of 2010.

  • An exhibition called NEPCON Shanghai '98, which will showcase the latest development in the electronics industry, will be held on March 23.

  • Shanghai is leading the country in the research and production of new medicines, bio-chemicals and gene products, said the vice-director of the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industry Office of Shanghai, Mr. Wang Jianping.

  • The light industry in Shanghai is pushing reforms of the State-run enterprises, promoting a shareholding system as well as planning more mergers and acquisitions.

  • China elected the central government leaders on March 16, including the president, vice-president, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and chairman of the Central Military Commission. Jiang Zemin was re-elected president of the country and chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission; Li Peng was elected chairman of the NPC Standing Committee and Hu Jintao was elected vice-president of the country.

  • March 12 is Tree-planting Day. Governmental organizations have been organizing tree-planting activities.

  • After seven years of development, Waigaoqiao has gradually taken shape as a free trade zone. Last year its industrial output reached US$0.78 billion.

  • As Shanghai-Hangzhou Expressway is about to complete, passenger trains between the two cities have accelerated. The fastest train now only takes about an hour and a half.

  • The street-level economy (retailers, shops and other tertiary industry outlets) in Hongkou District has grown six-fold in the past five years.

  • Beginning next month, taxis will charge US$1.2 for the first three kilometers instead of US$1.70 for five kilometers.

  • The city will begin construction on the middle section of the elevated highway on Yan'an Road next month.

  • The Asian financial crisis has had a dampening effect on the ongoing '98 East China Fair, which opened on March 5 and ends on March 14.

  • Shanghai aims to become the core of China's environmental industry. So far 600 of 10,000 environmental protection companies are located in Shanghai.

  • After years of explosive expansion, Shanghai's retail and wholesale businesses have limited room for further development, says Shanghai's vice-major in charge of the city's commerce, Mr. Feng Guoqin.

  • Regulations aimed at controlling the rampant use of glass walls for skyscrapers will take effect soon.

  • China's largest public telecommunications provider, China Telecom, has signed an agreement with Microsoft to jointly develop a special Internet browser.

  • The First Session of the Ninth National People's Congress opened in Beijing's Great Hall of People on March 5. Premier Li Peng delivered the annual government work report.

  • East China Fair was held at ShanghaiMart and Shanghai International Exhibition Center on March 5. More than 2,000 exporters from 33 provinces and cities around the country attended the annual 10-day event.

  • People from all walks of life took part in a series of activities that rendered free services possible for the needy in an effort to learn from Lei Feng, a soldier who devoted all his life serving the people heart and soul.

  • Aforestation has been well carried out in Shanghai's suburban areas. More than 8 million trees have been planted since the beginning of the year.

  • On March 5, more than one hundred local citizens donated blood without any compensation. Last year, more than 10,000 people voluntarily donated blood.

  • '98 Shanghai Stamp-collecting Festival started yesterday. At the same time, commemorative stamp exhibition on the late Premier Zhou Enlai was also held.

  • Shanghai's biological and medicine industries produced US$1.82 billion worth of goods in 1997, up 20% from the previous year.

  • Xuhui District, in southwest Shanghai with Xujiahui shopping area as its center, has become the most favored area for local property investors. One third of all the property sold last year in Shanghai was located in Xuhui.

  • Shanghai residents are spending more money on services. The city's per capita expense on services grew at an annual rate of 29.8% between 1992 and 1997.

  • The US$1.52-billion Shanghai General Motors plant under construction in Pudong is regarded as the No. 1 project in the city this year by the municipal government.

  • Local residents will soon have natural gas for cooking as the first-phase of an ongoing project is completed. The project involves a daily extraction of 1.2 million cubic meters of natural gas from the East China Sea.

  • The First Session of the Ninth People's Political Consultative Conference was held in Beijing's Greet Hall of People on March 4.

  • Shanghai has drawn up a two-stage economic program to become an international metropolis within 13 years. Within the program the GDP is expected to increase at an annual rate of 10-12%.

  • The Shanghai Municipal Governemnt estimates that by the end of this year, 200,000 laid-off workers will still be jobless.

  • To mark the 100th anniversary of late Premier Zhou Enlai's birth, a series of publications have been issued or produced. They include books, video CDs, video cassettes, etc.

  • Since its introduction a couple of days ago, portable breathlysers have helped the traffic police to identify 10 drunken drivers.

  • The total sales of Shanghai's food industry this year is expected to reach US$3.6 billion. Hopefully it will become another pillar industry for the city.

  • The Shanghai Education Development Foundation has invested US$60,000 over the past four years to subsidize adult-training programs throughout the city.

  • Baoshan Iron and Steel Corp., the country's largest steel maker, has been recognized for its efforts in helping clean and protect the environment.

  • The city will try to provide larger appartments this year for 15,000 families with a per capiat living space less than 4 square meters.

  • High school students in Pudong New Area are required to work up to 48 hours as community volunteers, according to a new system that took effect at the beginning of the current semester.
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