Beijing Today (January 26, 2007)

17.4 MB·English

by  Beijing Youth Daily Group

Y
Leader of the View from the
packs. east:
Asia Art Now.
Page 18 Page 12
A
Full service for mind and body. Page 21
D
Women abuse fertility drugs
to bypass family planning law
O
Page 3
T
Migrant
mothers,

children get
G
enhanced
health service
Page 2
N
Shanxi
I
journalist
beaten to death
J
Page 3
I
E
Co-ops to
solve housing
B crunch
Page 4
Bank truck bandit
FRIDAY
JANUARY 26 2007
Controversy
sent back to Taiwan
NO. 295 CN11-0120
HTTP://BJTODAY.YNET.COM over
CHIEF EDITOR:
prostitution
JIAN RONG
NEWS EDITOR: Li Hanyang, wanted by Taiwan police for robbing an armored car, and his younger brother, Li Jinzan, notice
HOU MINGXIN were sent back to the island by mainland police yesterday. Li Hanyang, who worked as a driver for bank
deliveries in Taipei, stole 56 million New Taiwan dollars (US$1.75 million) was arrested in Yunnan
DESIGNER: Page 7
ZHAO YAN province on January 9. Xinhua Photo
Let the juice loose.
Page 19
Under the auspices of the Information Offi ce of Beijing Municipal Government Run by Beijing Youth Daily President: Zhang Yanping Editor in Chief: Zhang Yabin Executive Deputy Editor in Chief: He Pingping
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January 26 2007
2

Surveying
China tightens family planning policy
and mapping
s by foreigners
By Qiu Jiaoning In 19 provinces, rural couples China has seen nearly 100 the government’s Research of Chi-
w restricted
China plans to enhance its have been allowed two children million children born since the na’s National Strategy for Popula-
existing family planning policy if their fi rst was a girl, and such family planning policy was fi rst tion Development.
e to keep its population at 1.36 families account for 53 percent introduced in the 1970s. Based on the current situa- By Han Manman
billion and maintain a fertility of the population, Wang said. In Danger of gender imbalance tion, China is expected to have China’s Ministry of Land
N rate of 1.8 percent by the end fi ve provinces, including Hainan Gender imbalance, said up to 30 million men of marrying and Resources issued rules on
of 2010. This is to meet quan- and Yunnan, all rural parents are Zhang, is currently a very serious age without partners in 2020. Monday to restrict foreigners’
titative population objectives, allowed to have two children. challenge for China and should The minister said the Chi- surveying and mapping activi-
Zhang Weiqing, minister of the In addition, couples from one- be resolved through education nese government will make every ties in the country
National Population and Family child families have also been campaigns, punishments for sex- effort to protect women and baby According to the regulations,
Planning Commission (NPFPC), allowed two children. The minister selective abortions and rewards girls and crack down on illegal foreign organizations and indi-
said on Tuesday. explained that the different policies for parents who have girls. gender selection tests and sex- viduals, who engage in sur-
Not limited to single child stem from China’s unbalanced eco- “Resolving the problem will selective abortions, which was veying and mapping in China
China’s family planning policy nomic and social development. be diffi cult. We expect to take already banned last year. must obtain approval from the
is not ‘one-child policy,’ mean- China is the world’s most pop- between 10 and 15 years to nor- Moreover, the country is car- central government beforehand
ing not all Chinese couples are ulous nation with approximately malize the gender imbalance in the rying out a pilot plan in some and work under supervision
limited to bearing only one child, 1.3 billion people, or 20 percent Chinese population,” Zhang said. regions that will provide retire- from local governments.
Wang Guoqiang, vice director of the global total. The country’s In 2005, 118 baby boys were ment pensions for rural parents Foreigners must work
of NPFPC, said. In fact, Wang population is expected to reach born for every 100 girls, and the over 60 years old who have only together with a Chinese part-
explained, only 35.9 percent of 1.5 billion in 2033, posing huge imbalance has reached as high as one child or two girls. Each ner and their activities must
the population has been strictly challenges to the country’s econ- 130 boys for every 100 girls in areas parent can get as much as 600 not involve state secrets or
limited to having one child. omy and environment. like Guangdong province, revealed yuan per month. jeopardize national security,
the directive said.
The regulation forbids for-
GDP surged
eigners from conducting land
to 10.7 percent surveys, aerial photography,
mapping of administrative bor-
in 2006 derlines and the drawing of
navigation maps.
The State Bureau of Survey
By Qiu Jiaoning
and Mapping said foreigners
China’s gross domestic prod-
who illegally survey, gather and
uct (GDP) for the year 2006 was
publish geographical informa-
20.94 trillion yuan or 10.7 per-
tion on China will be punished
cent, 0.3 percent higher than
severely. Chinese partners or
that of the previous year, the
translators will also be fi ned if
National Bureau of Statistics
they fail to stop illegal map-
(NBS) announced at a news con-
ping activities.
ference this Thursday.
The number of foreigners
The value added in primary
conducting surveying and map-
m industry was 2.47 trillion yuan, ping in China is on the rise
o up by 5 percent; that in secondary
c and many fi eld projects have
@ynet. iutnhpde utbesyrt tr1iya2 r.w5y aipnse d1ru0cse.t2nr ytt; w raialnlsido 8 n.t2 hy7au ttar iinln-, bheaevne ctharrreiaetde noeudt itlhleeg asellcyu, rwithyi cohf
n the country, said the ministry,
ngxi lNioBnS ycuoamnm, uisps io10n.e3r Xpeierc Feunzt,h asani.d without mentioning how many
mi The total volume of imports such cases it had discovered.
u The warning followed the
o and exports for the whole year
H case of two Japanese scholars
mail: roena-cyheeadr gUrSo$w1t.h7 6o tf r2il3li.o8n ,p ae ryceeanrt-. wyuhaon w aenrde fi dneepdo ar tteodta flo orf 8co0l,l0e0ct0-
E- Of this total, the value of exports CFP Photo ing materials and gathering the
was US$969.1 billion and the
coordinates of an airport and
value of imports was US$791.6
water facilities in Xinjiang last
en bUiSll$io1n7,7 .5 ab illitorand. e surplus of False fi re alarm forces year. It was feared the informa-
G tion they gathered could be put
ng fast“ Fgorroewigtnh wtriathd e thme aiinntcarienaesde Singaporean aircraft landing to military use.
a
er: Y oXfi e fosareidig. nF odreiriegcnt diinrevcets timnveenstt,”- More police
n
g ment actually used in 2006 was By Chu Meng needed
esi US$60.3 billion, an increase of A Singapore Airlines passenger jet which made an emergency landing in Beijing shortly after take-
D 4.5 percent. Year-end foreign off experienced only a false alarm, Xinhua learned late Wednesday.
g exchange reserves of China The Boeing 777-200 passenger aircraft, which was carrying 227 passengers and 17 crew members, By CPohleinc eS hoaffsihcears are in short
en reached US$1.07 trillion. was en route from Beijing to Singapore, when an alarm sounded indicating a fi re in its right engine. supply in China and recruit-
M “New employment in urban It returned and landed safely at Beijing Capital International Airport. Engineers found no signs of
u areas for the whole year was 11.84 fi re, damage or excessively high temperatures after checking the engine, said a source with the airlines, ment should be increased,
h Wu Heping, spokesman for
C million people, which recorded a who didn’t give his name.
n big increase,” Xie said. The regis- the Ministry of Public Secu-
xi rity, said this Tuesday.
g tered urban unemployment rate
n The country has 1.4 million
Mi at the end of 2006 was 4.1 per- Migrant mothers and children get police offi cers, accounting for
u cent, 0.1 percentage point lower 0.1 percent of the whole pop-
o than the previous year.
H enhanced health service ulation, Wu said. However, in
s: In 2006, the per capita dispos- developed countries, the aver-
or able income of urban populations age rate is 35 police offi cers per
dit was 11,759 yuan, a year-on-year By Huang Daohen economic gap between urban able and equitable health care.” ten thousand people.
E growth of 12.1 percent. The per The Ministry of Health, WHO and rural areas, especially the To this end, the Beijing gov-
Y capita net income of rural popula- and UNICEF have jointly funded precarious situation of popula- ernment, with technical and “As a country with an aver-
age GDP of US$1,000-3,000,
A tions was 3,587 yuan, a growth of a health plan for Beijing’s migrant tions such as migrant workers. financial assistance from WHO
more and more crime has been
D 10.2 percent. By the end of 2006, mothers and their children. The Statistics show that nearly half and UNICEF, has activated the taking place in China. Thus, we
the balance of savings deposits plan started its trial run in Cha- of newborns in Beijing are from ‘medical check automobile
O of households amounted to 16.16 oyang district on Tuesday. migrant families, and the mor- plan,’ which aims to provide need to recruit more police,”
Wu said. “Graduates from uni-
T trillion yuan. According to a UNICEF tality rate of migrant pregnant migrant mothers and children
versities and workers in vari-
Xie said that there are some maternal and child survival woman is three times that of reg- the same services rendered to
ous areas will be encouraged
G outstanding problems in the report released last week, while istered residents. Beijing residents.
to take positions in the public
current economic performance. China is on-track for achieving In her statement, UNICEF The plan provides for automo-
N security sector.”
Agriculture still has a weak basis, a number of the UN’s Millen- Representative Dr Yin Yin Nwe biles to drive into local communi-
The number of police acade-
I which leads to diffi culties in the nium Development Goals, there emphasized, “Our challenge is ties, giving free health services for
J mies, however, is to be cut down,
steady growth of grain produc- remain serious concerns about to reach the most marginalized migrant pregnant women, includ-
I converting some of these insti-
E tion and in the continued growth the slowing down of progress. and vulnerable populations and ing regular health checks, blood tutions into training centers.
B of farmer’s incomes. This is in part attributed to the ensure universal access to afford- tests and fi le maintenance.
January 26 2007
3
Shanxi journalist beaten to death Survey fi nds
Chinese rate
By Huang Daohen He and colleague Chang Hanwen attempted to extort money from Lan and Cheng met Hou at European, US s
Local police have arrested were apparently assaulted by as the mine owner, offering not to the mine offi ce at around 4pm,
companies w
Hou Zhenrun, the owner of an many as 10 men while visiting a report any illegal mining in return having made an appointment by
unlicensed coal mine, and six mine in Hunyuan County in the for a substantial payment. telephone. Hou then instructed Wu
highest
others suspected of involvement northern province of Shanxi on On the morning of January Qiang, Zheng Wenping, and others e
in the death of a reporter who was January 10. Lan subsequently died 10, Lan asked his colleague Chang to assault Lan and Chang. After the
By Jackie Zhang
killed while investigating illegal as a result of injuries sustained and Hanwen to accompany him to a attack, Hou left 1,000 yuan apiece N
European and North American
mining, an offi cial from Shanxi Chang was also injured. Hunyuan county coal mine. Nei- for Lan and Chang before leaving
companies operating in China are
province Public Security Bureau Lan’s death drew the immediate ther of the two had full reporter’s the scene with his accomplices.
evaluated highly by Chinese con-
told a press conference Tuesday. response from Beijing authorities. credentials. En route, Lan said to The China Trade News writes
sumers and workers, ranking fi rst
Three suspects, however, still President Hu Jintao has ordered a Chang, “Once we fi nd the mine on its web site that Lan and Chang
and second in a survey of public
remain at large. full investigation into the fatal beat- owner, all we have to do is show were hired in late December last
attitudes by the Horizon Research
The reporter Lan Chengzhang ing of Lan. him our identifi cation and he’ll give year. It only says they were ‘employ-
Consultancy Group, the results of
worked for the China Trade News. Police say that Lan initially us at least 1,000 yuan (US$130).” ees,’ not reporters.
which were released last week.
The survey asked 2,239 mem-
bers of the public, and 418
employees and 482 managers at
international companies in seven
Chinese cities who they thought
were the most infl uential global
enterprises in China in 2006.
US companies were praised for
their public relations and manage-
ment systems. Japanese compa-
nies enjoyed a good reputation for
human resources management and
leadership, but most respondents
thought they needed to work to
improve their corporate image and
enterprise culture. The reputation
of Korean companies declined this
year compared to 2005. They were
adjudged to have weak crisis man-
agement and to have not success-
fully established a corporate image.
Employees and managers at for-
eign enterprises were generally satis-
Fire at historic Shanghai church fi ed with management systems and
competitiveness at their employers,
whilst the general public were more
interested in corporate image.
A fi re broke out early Wednesday morning at the New Tian’an Church, a Gothic structure built more than a century ago, which
The survey found that Chinese
stands at the junction of Yuanmingyuan Road and South Suzhou Road in Shanghai. CFP Photo people see foreign companies as
part of Chinese society, and wel-
come the contribution they make
Emergency Women abusing fertility drugs
to it and the responsible way they
manage their local staff.
treatment for
to bypass family planning law
injured rare fi sh
Brief news
By Qiu Jiaoning Higher GDP per capita
A 200-kilogram, 3.35-meter- By Chu Meng tainly a signifi cant factor.” The capital’s gross domestic
long Chinese Sturgeon, which was A new version of China’s family He said the main ingredient of product (GDP) per capita hit some
found with 27 wounds on its body, planning regulations released by the most fertility drug is clomiphene 50,000 yuan (US$6,400), up 8.8
is being given emergency treatment National Population and Family citrate, which encourages more than percent on that of 2005, the Beijing en
by fi ve fi sh experts in Shanghai this Planning Commission Tuesday one egg to ripen in a woman’s ovary Municipal Bureau of Statistics G
week, according to one of them, Liu morning showed no sign of aban- at the same time. There has always announced Wednesday. ng
Jianyi from the East China Sea Fish- doning the strict controls known been debate over how clomiphene Smaller households Ya
eries Research Institute. popularly as the ‘one-child policy’, citrate actually works, and whether The average size of a household er:
Liu said that the fi sh was acci- but increasing number of couples it poses any danger to mother or in the capital has shrunk from 3.89 n
g
dentally caught by a person fi shing are attempting to circumvent the child. “We never recommend or members in 1982 to 2.71 members si
off Chongming Island this week. rules by taking fertility drugs that allow women with healthy ovaries now, with Chaoyang, a district with De
Injuries sustained almost killed the may result in multiple births. to use fertility drugs. If they are to many foreign residents, seeing the o
fi sh, which is listed as one of Chi- Drugs lead to tragedy be used for a woman not producing smallest average household size b
u
na’s most endangered species and is For seven years, 34-year-old eggs, it should be under strict super- of 2.58 persons, according to a X
under Class A state protection. Song Hua in Beijing tried in vain vision by a gynecologist.” recent survey by the Beijing Statis- g
Pills should only be taken n
The fi sh has severe cuts on its to have a child. She at last suc- Under national family planning tics Bureau. a
head and tail and most of the protec- ceeded in becoming pregnant with under medical supervision. regulations, couples in rural areas Smuggling worth billions n Ji
tive mucous which normally covers twins in May, 2005, after purchas- thought at the time these were likely can have a second child if their fi rst Chinese customs authorities xi
g
its body has been badly damaged, ing a fertility drug from a drug quite common symptoms during is a girl, but city dwellers like Song recorded 7,240 cases of smuggling n
like a human patient with severe store in Fengtai District. pregnancy,” she said. Hua will pay hefty fi nes if they have last year, involving some 14 billion Mi
extensive burns, according to Liu. It later turned out the pri- Song felt unwell for the whole a second child and could be forced yuan (US$1.8 billion) worth of u
o
“Although it will be a tough vately-run pharmacy was operat- of December, when she showed to abort. The rule is not applied goods, according to the General H
task to save it, it is clinging to ing illegally. Song and her family signs of giving birth and taken in cases of multiple births, which Administration of Customs. s:
life now, but is not yet out of were delighted at her pregnancy, to Beijing Shuili Hospital. After has led to an increasing number of Fewer work deaths per 100 or
danger,” Liu said. “We are giving it and look forward to the arrival of eight hours of agony in the deliv- urban couples to attempt to exploit million GDP dit
E
24-hour emergency treatment and twins in the lunar Year of Pig, but ery room, her twin sons were still- this loophole. Accidental deaths per 100 mil-
Y
will carry out further tests once the tragedy struck. Song Hua’s two born in the early hours of New Song said, “Even though, I do lion yuan (US$12.9 million U.S.
sturgeon has regained strength.” children were still-born. Year’s Day. “I fainted when they not regret taking fertility drugs. If I dollars) of GDP earned were 0.558 A
The experts believe that the A visibly upset Song told this told me the twins were dead,” a got pregnant naturally I would only in 2006, down more than 20 per- D
female sturgeon was weakened reporter in an interview Tues- still heartbroken Song told me. have been allowed one child under cent from the fi gure for 2005,
O
having just laid her eggs before she day, “It was a nightmare. A friend Warnings China’s strict population policy.” the State Administration of Work
was caught. It is one of the biggest told me about a fertility drug that He Fangfang, head of gynecol- Fertility drug use widespread Safety announced on Wednesday. T
sturgeons captured in recent years. was supposed to help me produce ogy and obstetrics at Beijing Union Qiao Jie, the director of Beijing Oil theft
All the other sturgeon caught by more eggs.” Hospital, who oversaw the fi rst suc- University’s Third Hospital repro- The police across the country G
fi shermen in recent years were too It was some minutes before a cessful in-vitro fertilization at the ductive health center said, “Some arrested more than 4,500 people
N
badly injured to be saved. weeping Song was able to continue hospital, said Tuesday, “It is hard to women take fertility drugs hoping for stealing oil, damaging pipelines,
The Chinese Sturgeon is thought with our interview. “In the seventh say for certain that Song’s prema- to have more than one child but and illegally drilling for oil or gas I
J
to have lived at the same time as month of my pregnancy, I began ture delivery and the babies’ deaths they are not aware of how danger- last year, the Ministry of Public
I
dinosaurs, and some regard it as a to feel problems in my belly, I was are entirely due to her use of the ous this can be, both for the mother Security announced Wednesday E
living fossil. short of breath and had dizzy spells. I drug, but I would say it was cer- and their unborn children.” (By Jiang Xubo) B
January 26 2007
4
Cooperation
s
u
c
Solving Beijing’s housing crunch
o
F
‘For cooperative housing, they By Annie Wei The Ministry of Finance’s mated to cost each member
With climbing real estate latest investigative report on only 5,300 yuan (US$480)
can slash out the developers’
prices becoming one of Chi- 39 developers shows they per square meter, compared
profi t margin (30 - 40 percent), na’s greatest frustrations, tried to evade a total of 1.1 to 11,000 yuan (US$1,400)
as well as the fees for advertising individual cooperative hous- billion (US$141 million) yuan per square meter in other Meng Xiansheng
ing (ICH) projects have in taxes. neighborhood projects.
Photo provided by Sina.com
and sales.’ sprouted up across the nation The poor housing situation Rising doubts
to seek out affordable hous- has been exposed by media. Some people raised
ing solutions and a way to Fewer square meters than doubts about the legitimacy,
stymie the greed of real estate developers promised, poor professionalism and supervi-
developers. quality, apartments being sold sion of individual cooperat-
The project to several buyers and fake ing housing.
The push for ICH in Beijing information are only a few of Meng said illegal fund-rais-
in 2003 touched off responses the known problems. ing means collecting money
in other cities like Nanjing, Under pressure, Yu Lin- from the public without stat-
Guangzhou, Xi’an, Hangzhou gang, a Beijing man, came up ing a clear objective. However,
and Shanghai, but it wasn’t with the idea for ICH. raising funds for cooperative
till November 2006 that two Long march housing projects has a clear
cooperative housing projects On December 1, 2003, intention – to sell apartments
in Wenzhou and Shenzhen Yu announced his proposal at cost instead of for profi t.
took steps towards success. online. Yu’s idea spread like Others doubt the quality
In Beijing, Meng Xian- wildfi re over the country, and of such projects.
sheng, a real estate lawyer ICH project movers from Wu Xingwang, a con-
from the Beijing Renhe Law Wenzhou, Shenzhen and tractor for Easy-home, a
Firm, publicly announced his Zhengzhou jumped up. construction company, said
cooperative housing project Although he got quick cooperative housing didn’t
this week. responses from more than mean people in the project
Meng’s project lies in 100 people, Yu was unsuc- had to build the house brick
Miyun Reservoir, northeast cessful in acquiring land for by brick. They can trust the
of Beijing’s suburban area, the project. project to a qualifi ed con-
which already has 10,000 Each time, he was beaten struction company.
square meters of buildings. by other developers because “What they want to do is
Meng said it would be a com- of shaky fi nancial backing and to shrink the profi t margin of
munity for retired people. limited support from other real estate developers,” Wu,
Each apartment is less participants. who has worked in villa con-
than 100 square meters, and Although ICH is still struction sites for years, said.
all participants in the project experimental, two successful “For cooperative hous-
have to pay 100,000 yuan cases in Shenzhen and Wen- ing, they can slash out the
(US$12,800) in advance. zhou have given people hope. developers’ profit margin
The community’s 600 Lin Loren from Shenzhen (30 - 40 percent), as well as
apartments, each valued is the mover for one of Chi- the fees for advertising and
around 300,000 yuan na’s only two successful coop- sales. That’s how they have a
(US$38,000), will be built in erative housing projects. lower price than apartments
three periods. Meng said three He said he set up an offi ce sold by real estate develop-
types will be available: 60, 80 for ICH in early of 2005 with ers,” he said.
and 100 square meters. more than 200 members, but For project promoters,
The idea he failed in two bids. “These competing with the real
n The recent real estate failures helped us change our estate tycoons to acquire
e boom has turned from a sign ideas and strategies to fi nd a land is difficult, but Meng
G
g of improving living standards better solution,” he said. said getting land isn’t the
n into a nightmare of debt. Lin said his background biggest problem.
a
er: Y Mana napy aprtemopelnet wcohmo pmlaoinrt gtahgaet achs aar ivtyo lupnrotejeecr tfso rg a Sveh ehnizmhe na eral“ Bdoezijeinngs opnlolyts a pofp rlaonvdes e saecvh-
gn a big chunk of their income strong network that eventu- year, but there are more than
si goes only to interest. ally helped him win a bid 3,000 real estate developers
e
D ‘Mortgage slaves’ has for two condemned buildings in town. Acquisition of land is
g become a joke word among totaling 6 million yuan. diffi cult for everyone.”
n
e many young employees who When shared by the 81 par- Meng said that the bottle-
M battle to make their tight bud- ticipants, each square meter neck is the lack of a proven
hu gets work. cost only 1,600 yuan (US$205), model for ICH. “People get
C Still, more and more while neighboring apartments distracted about the details
xin people fi nd no matter how cost more than 5,000 yuan and it becomes hard to coop-
g hard they work, their increas- (US$640) per square meter. erate,” Meng said.
n
Mi ing salaries cannot match After Lin’s success, So, instead of seeking low-
u rocketing real estate costs. another group in Wenzhou income housing solutions,
Ho Around Beijing’s fourth announced their project Meng said he intends to fi nd a
s: ring road, the cost per square would break ground within solution for cooperative hous-
or meter can reach 19,800 yuan fi ve months. ing. That’s why his fi rst proj-
dit (US$2,500). On November 15, 2006, ect is for retired people, and if
E The Beijing Municipal Zhao Zhiqiang, general secre- it works out fi ne, they will try
Y
Construction Committee’s tary of the Wenzhou Market- cooperative housing aimed at
A data shows 88 million square ing Association, said they’d different consumers.
D meters of apartment space secured a piece of land from Right now, representa-
were sold at 2.5 billion yuan the government through a tives from twelve cities are
O
(US$321 million), which trusted property company. planning to set up an orga-
T equals an average price of The association signed a nization to share experiences
2,874 yuan (US$370) per development contract with a and explore feasible models
G square meter. property company, which to make ICH an alternative in
N However, the average price would grant them a legitimate China’s real estate market.
of real estate projects in right to buy and develop land. “We hope we can make it
I Beijing, including suburban The land cost 105 million happen, and we believe the
J
I areas, reached 8,792 yuan yuan (US$13.5 million), but government will pass laws and
E Yu Lingang CFP Photos (US$1,130) per square meter. the whole project was esti- regulations for it,” Meng said.
B
January 26 2007
5
China moves to
Beijing suffers as ‘love affair’
close wealth gap
BEIJING (AP) – China is mobi-
k
lizing its tax system to help close
with cars grows stronger a politically volatile wealth gap,
o
and is also removing a disparity
between the tax rates for main-
o
land Chinese companies and non-
mainland fi rms. l
The Chinese tax commissioner, t
BEIJING (Reuters) – The
Xie Xuren, said Wednesday that
number of new vehicles reg- u
the government would cut taxes
istered in Beijing hit a new
on the poor and step up efforts to
record in the fi rst 18 days of O
stop cheating by the rich.
2007, Xinhua news agency said
Tax revenues soared by 22 per-
this week, as the city strug-
cent last year to 3.7 trillion yuan
gled to cope with worsening
(US$475 billion), Xie said.
traffi c jams ahead of the 2008
This year, Beijing plans to cut
Olympics. More than 22,000
taxes on low-income groups and
vehicles – which under Chi-
fi ght tax evasion by the rich “to
na’s statistics system includes
ensure fairness and social justice
everything from private cars to
and to minimize the wealth gap,”
trucks – were registered since
Xie said at a news conference.
the new year and an estimated
The government is trying to
three million will be on the
defuse tensions over the growing
roads by May, the offi cial news
gulf between an urban elite, who
agency said.
have profi ted the most from more
“The Chinese love affair with
than 20 years of economic growth,
car ownership continues
and the majority, who remain poor.
unabated,” the report said.
Xie gave no details of the
The Chinese capital already
planned tax breaks. Beijing abol-
boasts more than two million
ished its tax on farmland in 2005
privately owned vehicles and
in an effort to raise incomes in
4.24 million people have a More cars inevitably worsen the capital’s traffi c. CFP Photo the rural areas, home to 800 mil-
driving license, it added. The
lion people.
city has a population of around agement Bureau as saying. antiquated subway system and public transport.
Xie also said that the govern-
15 million. Traffi c congestion in the build new roads. If Beijing’s most ambitious
ment would combine laws that
“We granted more than capital has proved a headache It has also worsened the expansion plan is approved, the
tax mainland and non-mainland
2,400 new driving licenses in for organizers of the 2008 already serious air pollution. capital could have the world’s
companies at different rates to
a single day,” Xinhua quoted Beijing Olympics, despite the To tackle the problem, the longest subway network by
ensure fairness.
an unnamed spokesman for the government investing some government is trying to 2020, exceeding that of London,
Beijing Municipal Traffi c Man- US$40 billion to expand the encourage more people to use state media said last year. More doping
tests for Beijing
Expert comment
Olympics
By Jiang Xubo they create. sures would surely increase the try to improve public trans-
BEIJING (AP) – The number
Professor Zhang Guowu, “The government could cost of driving a car, and dis- portation by building longer
of doping tests at the 2008 Olym-
an expert in traffi c manage- demand car owners to pay courage car owners from driv- subways and more speed lanes
pics will increase signifi cantly
ment at Beijing Jiaotong Uni- higher fees for curbside park- ing in the city. for the capital’s public buses.
over the number performed three
versity, says there is no doubt ing,” he said, “or even “This would help reduce the “Making those options
years ago in Athens.
that the capital’s traffi c jams introduce congestion fees, number of cars on the capi- cheaper and more convenient
Around 4,500 doping tests
are going to worsen with more which have been widely tal’s roads and ease its traffi c will encourage many more
will be conducted in Beijing, the
and more cars on the road. adopted in foreign cities jams,” the professor said. people to choose public trans-
China Daily newspaper reported
However, Zhang noted it is including Tokyo.” At the same time, Zhang portation over private cars,”
on Friday, citing a Beijing orga-
possible to lessen the burden Zhang noted that those mea- added, the government should Zhang said.
nizing committee offi cial.
“As part of its zero tolerance
approach to fi ghting doping, the
n
Big sandstorms are spring forecast International Olympic Commit- a
Y
tee has decided to increase the o
number of tests by a large ha
amount,’’ organizing committee Z
Snow shortage, desertifi cation and drought cited as factors executive vice president Yang er:
Shu’an was quoted as saying. The gn
newspaper said about 3,500 tests si
BEIJING (MSNBC) – Beijing drought have exacerbated the Expert comment were carried out at the 2004 De
issa nldiksetolyr mtso stuhfafne r nmoormrea-sl evtehries pthriocbkl eymel lionw r edcuesntt ryeeaacrhsi,n wgi tahs tfhaer Athens Olympics. bo
spring due to an unusually mild away South Korea and Japan. By Jiang Xubo the storms. Beijing to mark Xu
and dry winter, local media Beijing, which suffered 17 Zhang Xinshi, a “We could grow shrubs g
one-year n
reported on Monday. sandstorms in the spring of 2006, researcher at the Chinese and grass in dry regions, and a
Higher-than-average temper- has pledged to hold a sandstorm- Academy of Sciences’ Insti- grow shelter forests in oases,” countdown with n Ji
atures and little snowfall could free Olympics in 2008 and has tute of Botany, told Beijing Zhang said. “In urban areas, xi
exacerbate the problem when launched campaigns to repair Today that the mild, dry we usually plant more trees 10,000 paddlers ng
heavy winds sweep across north- denuded land and rein in over- winter and desertifi cation and add more greenbelts.” Mi
ern China, the Beijing News said, grazing and over-logging. certainly contribute to the For Beijing, Zhang sug- BEIJING (Reuters) – Ten u
citing the Beijing Environmental But environmental offi cials have city’s sandstorms, adding gested a multi-ring system thousand Beijingers will play table Ho
Protection Bureau(BEPB). admitted that China, whose land- that global warming also to shelter the city from seri- tennis on 1,000 tables in Tianan- s:
“This warm, dry weather loos- mass is one-third desert, will never plays a role in the long term. ous sandstorms. “The outer men Square to mark the one-year or
ens the soil, and when the wind completely tame the storms due to “The government has been ring is the mountainous area countdown to the 2008 Olympics dit
lifts in spring, sandstorm con- the sheer size of its sandy regions. working on controlling sand- which surrounds the capi- on August 8, local media reported E
Y
ditions can easily develop,” the The offi cial Xinhua news agency storms,” Zhang said, “but it tal,” Zhang said. “We should on Tuesday.
paper quoted BEPB chief Shi reported on Monday that 462,666 takes time for the measures restore its long-damaged After trials held in each of A
Hanmin as saying. hectares of land in China’s north- to take effect.” vegetation, allowing the the city’s districts and counties, D
“Because of this, Beijing could ern region of Inner Mongolia were According to Zhang, area to regain its capacity the chosen players will compete
O
possibly face severe sandstorm lost to soil erosion in 2006. sandstorms can be mitigated to hold water.” in front of the electronic count-
pollution this spring.” In a bid to improve the cap- in two ways: reducing wind Zhang also suggested down board outside the China T
Beijing and much of northern ital’s air quality, Beijing would speed or decreasing sand changing the capital’s out- National Museum, Municipal
China suffer sandstorms every introduce a raft of measures in lands. Those factors skirts into a zone with both Sports Bureau chief Sun Kanglin G
spring, as heavy winds lift soil 2007, Shi said, including upgrad- determine the sandstorms’ woods and grass, which told Beijing Radio. N
from the country’s West and ing 1,100 boilers and canceling duration and frequency. could serve as the middle Table tennis, known as ping
Mongolian steppes and dump 2,580 high-polluting public buses Currently, Zhang noted, dif- ring. “The inner ring consists pong, is China’s national ball JI
dust on homes and cars thou- and enforcing “Euro 4” emis- ferent measures are used in mainly of the city’s green sport with participation levels I
sands of miles away. sions standards for all new cars different regions to deal with belts,” Zhang said. far outstripping those of soccer E
Desertifi cation and persistent in 2008. or basketball. B
January 26 2007
6
Chery plans overseas plants Bank of Beijing
wins QDII quota
Beijing, January 25 (Reuters)
s – Bank of Beijing, 19.9 percent
Beijing, January 25 (AP) – for these plants this year,” Chery as the country’s biggest auto- enter the US market. owned by Dutch bank ING, has
s
Chery Automobile Co, China’s big- chairman Yin Tongyao says. Yin maker overall. Other Chinese automakers won offi cial approval to invest
e gest domestic automaker, plans gave no specifi c locations or a Chery, based in the southeast- also say they hope to sell in the US$300 million of client money
to set up three assembly plants timetable for the factories. ern province of Anhui, already United States, but industry ana- abroad under the Qualifi ed
n abroad in the Middle East, East- A Chery spokeswoman, Xie assembles vehicles abroad in lysts say they will have trouble Domestic Institutional Investor
ern Europe and South America. Ling, confi rmed that the com- facilities run with local partners in meeting safety and environmen- scheme (QDII).
i The announcement adds to pany plans to open the three fac- Iran, Malaysia, Russia, Ukraine, tal standards. The Chinese bank is the
s ambitious plans for Chery, which tories but said she had no other Brazil and Egypt. Chery and DaimlerChrysler country’s fi rst city commercial
says it hopes to export to the information. Chery announced plans in said in December that the Chi- bank to win such a quota. The
u
United States and announced a Chery sold 272,400 vehicles 2005 with a US partner to export nese automaker would manu- bank has completed its product
plan in December to make cars in China last year, but it trails vehicles to the US as early as this facture cars for sale worldwide design, which it expects to
B
for DaimlerChrysler AG. General Motors Corp, which year. It later suspended that plan under the Dodge, Chrysler or launch in February.
“We will formulate a clear plan sold 876,747 vehicles last year, but says it wants to eventually Jeep brands. Ctrip partners
with MSN

Visa ties up with Bank of China
Shanghai, January 25 (Reuters)
– China’s largest online travel
agent, Ctrip.com, is partnering
with MSN to cash in the country’s
growing class of young and affl u-
ent consumers looking to splash
out on travel.
The travel agent will tap over
20 million MSN Messenger users
in China. In return, Ctrip will help
MSN China build its online travel
channel where MSN users and
visitors can book hotels, plane
tickets and holidays through
Internet-based services.
Sony and Warner
join local market
Beijing, January 25 (AP) –
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
and Warner Music Group have
teamed with Access China Media
Solutions to set up a joint venture
Visa signed an agreement this week with the Bank of China to Visa has been the only offi cial electronic payment brand and in China to develop technology for
boost business through the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. payment service provider of the Olympics since 1986. distributing music downloads and
Both parties will strengthen cooperation in areas like onsite The Bank of China will be the only licensed bank providing other content to mobile phones.
ATMs and POS machines, Olympic ticket sales, online sales of offi - commercial banking and investment banking services, as well as Access China Media Solutions
cially-licensed Olympic products and development of new Olym- fi nancial products. is a joint venture that includes the
pic-themed products. Xinhua Photo Access Company of Tokyo and
Melodeo, a digital media com-
pany based in Seattle, US.
Delta applies for Pension fund eyes more
Starr Int’l joins
Shanghai fl ights Citic Securities
investments abroad
Shanghai, January 25 (Mar-
Atlanta, January 23 – Delta
ketWatch) – The US Starr Inter-
Air Lines fi led an application
national Co is joining Citic
with the US Department of Beijing, January 24 (Reuters) encouraging the fund to step up lion, only began investing in over-
Gen Tberatwnsepeonr tAattiloann tfao r nanodn stSohpa fln igghhatsi –ri tyC hFiunnad’s pNlaantsio tnoa iln Sveoscti aaln Soethcuer- its gBloubt atlh ien vfuesntdm heandts .y et to map sfoeraesi gmn afurknedt sm aafntearg earws harodtliyn gc o1n0- Sbreocukerirtaiegse, bCy haisnsae’tss , fit oft hfo-lcaursg eosnt
er: Yang uSenrdvDeirce eltstah A egp rr2eo0epm0o4se endUt. St-oC hipnrao vAidier Ufit enSra $onf7c 25i00al 0 m7m,a cirlhkliaeoitnrsm inia ntnht oXe ifia ornsvgte qrHsuueaaars-- oeguyt Tfaoonr y ti nhgveloe wbstha lo aliben rvooefa s2dt0m, 0et7hn.et sfturantd- tmesotnFeeduy n madb armnodaadant aiengse lratsot e wmNeoarnvee amgaesb keiertds. bninuieiytsEii anatlg hcp hasu ttb saaalkiirecde so iifptnf le waCrniihnlnlig ininsne.g sv eet soct o mumpap ktaoe-
n daily, year-round nonstop service icheng said this week. was able to draw on its own for- last year for their proposals on
g 500 million yuan in the 50-50
Desi from“T Mhea r5c5h m25il,l i2o0n0 p8e.ople in the thatS pethakei ngfu tnod r ephoardte rsi,n hvee sstaeidd ecuigrnre enxccyh iatn ngeee daessde wtsi tohr ibtsu syt athshe hino wsh atroe si navneds tU SU$S3$0800 0m imllioilnli oinn joint venture.
gyi Suonudtehresearsvteerdn iUn St earrme sd roafm naotnicsatollpy UenSd$ 8o5f 02 0m0i6ll ioann da bthraota di t bwyo uthlde of yTuhane , hreet suarinds. on the fund’s bonAdts aann dea cralisehr. news conference Mwiethn gNnBiuA partners
on and one-stop service to China,” have invested a total US$1.6 bil- overseas investments to date has in November, Xiang said only
H Delta appealed in the application. lion by the end of March. reached around 2.02 percent. that the mandates totaled more Beijing, January 24 (AP) –
ao Delta has been active in the The Chinese government was The fund, a total US$30 bil- than US$1 billion. The National Basketball Associ-
Zh China since 1987. In September ation (NBA) has a new market-
n 2006, Delta opened its third ing partner – Mengniu, the Inner
gxi China sales offi ce in Shanghai, McDonald’s, KFC gear up for drive-thru Mongolian milk producer.
n expanding on existing offi ces in The NBA hopes to improve
u Mi Beijing and Guangzhou. i2t0s 0p8r oOfil ylem pinic sC. hMinean gbneiufo wrei llt hbee
o Corporation (Sinopec) to exploit Sinopec is emphasizing non-oil
H known as the “offi cial dairy prod-
ditors: Lperensoidveon At msteeprisc a’s tahned J fceaofsfurt enfyotr oSydc’s.h waaprptez,t iMtec Dfoorn acladr’ss scpehrcoatdoo,ur v,c itacsec tc opo rrbedasilinadgne ncteto opZfr hoSafii nntsog p inHec ao.ii-l Cucth ofi tnhea N BMA ion Cbhiinlea.”
E down from post China CEO, said the company “We’ll build more gas stations buys into Paktel
Y will open 25 to 30 more locations like this one – which includes at
A New York, January 24 (CRN) in the next 12 to 18 months. least six gas pumps, a 24-hour Beijing, January 24 (IDGNS)
– Lenovo said Scott Smith, its They plan to open 100 new supermarket, ATMs, a parking – China Mobile Communications,
D
Americas president, is leaving to Zhang Haichao (second from restaurants in China by 2010, and area and fi ne toilets,” he said. the world’s largest mobile phone
O pursue other interests. left) and Jeffrey Schwartz more than half will have drive- The 20-year deal with Sino- service provider, sealed a US$284
T Smith’s exit comes after (third from left) at the opening thru windows. pec enables McDonald’s to pick million deal to buy 88.9 percent
Lenovo reported slumping US ceremony “Gas stations and drive- any site where the Chinese part- shares of Paktel Ltd, a wireless

G sales. Lenovo’s US notebook sales Photo by Chu Meng thrus are booming as car pur- ner decides to open a restaurant operator in Pakistan.
in the second quarter came in chases by newly affluent drivers at any of its fi lling stations. The Chinese company bought
N at US$1.91 billion, and desktop By Chu Meng speed China’s change from a McDonald’s has 15 drive-thrus the shares from the US-based
I sales totaled US$1.57 billion. McDonald’s opened its fi rst bicycle culture to a car one.” in Shanghai and Guangdong. Millicom. Paktel is the fi fth-larg-
J Smith joined Lenovo with its drive-thru restaurant in Beijing Schwartz said. Last year, KFC announced a est mobile phone network oper-
I
E US$1.75 billion acquisition of last Friday in partnership with Because of the high pressure plan to build 100 drive-thru res- ator in Pakistan with over 1.3
IBM’s PC business in May 2005. China Petroleum and Chemical of unstable world crude oil prices, taurants in China by 2008. million subscribers.
B
January 26 2007
7
China’s top fi lm authority
Fund to help
announced last week it will
launch a fund to help 16
promising Chinese directors
make movies and improve the e
quality of China’s fi lms.
The State Administration of promising t
Radio, Film and Television a
(SARFT) will offer 500,000 yuan
(US$64,300) for each script that b
meets its criteria and help the
fi lms get published. directors e
The plan was developed to
encourage established young
D
directors who are not yet known
internationally.
The fund will support fi lm-
makers under 45 years old who
had made an impact. Next year,
the age cut-off point will be low-
ered to 40, an offi cial said.
The decision might lead to the
conclusion that offi cial regulators
are tired of the same few big-
name directors as many Chinese
netizens. Li Liang, for example,
commenting at the Kaiju Shake-
Lu Chuan Wang Xiaoshuai Xu Jinglei Jia Zhangke
down blog, wrote:
“As for Zhang Yimou, Feng
Xiaogang and Chen Kaige, the
larger the budgets they get for
making movies, the worse their
directing gets. Maybe somebody
should impose a 500,000 yuan
(US$64,300) budget on any
scripts those three decide to direct
in the next few years.”
The decline in ‘humane care
and culture’ in fi lms made
recently has been key to this deci-
sion. Domestic big budget pro-
ductions must not simply look to
Ning Hao Ning Cai Wulan Tana Zhang Yang
make a profi t, but should promote
the offi cial theme of a ‘harmoni- The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television The administration promised to help publish their fi lms. The
ous society’,whilst also pleasing launched a fund to sponsor a group of 16 young and potential plan is to encourage young directors to conduct more and better
the audience. fi lm directors. fi lms, and to upgrade the overall quality of China’s fi lms.
(Source: Global Voices Online) Each director will receive 500,000 yuan (US$64,300) per script. CFP Photo
Comment market do its thing. Why not try the size and scale of China – per- shoot mainstream movies and Is it possible that if they
to identify the unknowns who haps movie culture is needed to make them well, people will still accept the funding, they’ll be con-
Three hundred and sixty mil- need funding most! keep people together. like them. trolled and supervised?
lion yuan was invested in Zhang – dontoaskwhoiam – Jordan – Luan Ma – yy
Yimou’s Curse of the Golden From my perspective, SARFT I don’t think SARFT funding A real artist’s creativity and It is said that SARFT will
Flower, which is enough to fund is going to ruin these directors. can help artistic creations. If works should not be infl uenced appoint people to oversee script
about 720 movies. If those other – Luo Fenfen directors take this money, they’ll by any ideology. Any art that discussions and decide the sub-
movies contribute to the con- Domestic fi lms must not be restricted. But if SARFT serves a third party isn’t art. jects. This funding plan is
struction of a ‘harmonious soci- simply seek big budgets and actively seeks them out to give I’d put up the money to fund expected to become a sort of
ety,’ then it would be money large-scale productions. them money, will any directors directors like Lu Chuan, Wang ongoing system, which will
better spent. They should work to raise dare refuse it? If they do, will Xiaoshuai, Xu Jinglei, Jia ensure annual investment in n
e
– Getting Dark human awareness and to their fi lms have trouble getting Zhangke, Ning Hao, Ning Cai, themed fi lms. I wonder if with G
Is this policy necessary? If the improve content in terms of ide- past the censors? Wulan Tana and Zhang Yang to this kind of funding, will they still g
promising young directors are ology and character. - cccp – Channel 3 shoot good Chinese movies. be able to shoot good movies. an
Y
already established, then let the The real issue for me is the Everything will be OK if they – ppp – Charley er:
n
g
si
Controversy over prostitution notice e
D
yi
g
n
o
By Huang Daohen capital’s streets, warning the public of a its use of the phrase, ‘This place,’ and provided. H
A newly erected warning sign outside number of common crimes and frauds. wondered if this implied prostitution is Online mockery at the “incompetence o
a
Sihui subway station that states “Illegal The number of a police hotline is given so allowed elsewhere. and stupidity” of the police was con- h
Z
activities such as street-walking and pros- the public can call if they encounter any- According to the Chaoyang Public demned in a number of newspaper edi- n
titution are strictly prohibited in this thing suspicious. Security Bureau, the sign was erected torials this week, which suggested that xi
g
place,” has sparked a heated controversy. A ‘Mr Fu’ was the fi rst to notice the to inform passers-by that if they encoun- the critics were being unfair to the police n
Other than the notice on prostitution, wording on the sign when he passed it ter the listed problems they can imme- by being too picky about the wording of Mi
the sign is similar to many others in the one day after work. He was disturbed by diately call police on the hotline number the sign. ou
H
guistic quibbles; the value judgment of to nit-pick like this, why not go and do are some attractive young ladies ‘active’ s:
CPoromstitumtione is naftter all a kind of busi- wpehremthitetre do rr ensotst osno ltihceit ibnogtt opmro slitniteu otef st hies smoemnetathl iwngo ruks.e ful like volunteer environ- ivne rmy yb acdom immpuancitt yon a ynodu tnhgis p meoapyle h. aPvreo sa- Editor
law and ethical standards rather than – Yang Ge titution should be allowed only in red- Y
ness. A deal is done and a transaction
completed. There is nothing wrong with on the absurd logic that what the signs Imagine a city full of signs prohibit- light districts. A
do not prohibit is permissible. ing stuff. That wouldn’t seem like a place – 923laotie
it if you avoid disease. I would say it D
– Deng Jianhai you would want to live, the list of prohi- They put up a sign then the police do
can release tension and benefi t health.
It might affect a married couple’s life or (Source: China Business View) bitions is enough to give you the chills. nothing. It is a lazy move by the police. O
I feel that the ‘Mr Fu’ who has focused – zz – Jasmin
cause discord and trouble, but I think that T
too much on the phrase “this place” must No society with a genuine rule of Since the Public Security Bureau is
depends. Anyway, prostitution exists and
have nothing better to do with his time. law would list all illegal activities on a aware that the problem is with using
that is not a bad thing. G
This is only a local problem. Why there is public sign. the word ‘here,’ why not change it to
– Hrl624
so much fuss over a word? – Sara another word? Otherwise, people may N
Having erected a sign out of good
– enrique I think it is very good notice, and take it for granted that since prostitu-
will only become ‘news’ in the bubble I
People must be very bored to make certainly it will be useful. I would wel- tion is prohibited here, it might have J
of public opinion, I’d guess that the
such a fuss! It is only a warning sign come the relevant departments erecting been allowed in other places. I
local police are pretty depressed. Citi- E
about a small area. If you have time warning signs in our community. There – Bestracy
zens’ objections are obviously just lin- B
January 26 2007
8
Expats awarded for
contributions to Beijing
s
w
By Jackie Zhang Beijing University of Technol-
The Great Wall Friendship ogy (BUT).
e prize was awarded to 15 Beijing King participated in orga-
expats from Australia, the US, nizing the Montreal Olympic
n UK, Japan, France and Canada Games in 1976, and now teaches
last week. English and shares professional
These foreigners were knowledge about the Olympic
prized for their efforts in their Games with the 2008 Games
t
professions. volunteers in BUT.
a Wu Jianping, one recipient, “I’ve been in Beijing now for
was awarded for his participa- three years. I was very surprised
p Gordon Sildlow (left) and Dr Christopher Riggs (middle) from the Hong Kong Jockey Club lecture on tion in Intelligent Transpor- and very honored that I’d been
veterinary training. Photo by Hu Yan tation System (ITS) research nominated, but even more so
x in Beijing. Wu went to study that I had been selected as a
Beijing vets prepare
in the University of South- recipient,” King said.
E
ampton, UK, in the early 90s, “Coming to China was, for
then stayed as a teacher and me, a completely new experience
acquired UK citizenship. in correcting my wrong impres-
for Olympics Six or seven years ago, Wu sions and starting to learn what
began his frequent trips to China China and Beijing really are
to participate in ITS research. about,” he said.
Now, he comes and goes King said he felt there
between China and the UK for was optimism about China’s
By Gan Tian prepared for how the horses will be the fi rst time Chinese vets are the ITS research as director of future, as there was in Canada
The 2008 Olympic Veterinar- handle Hong Kong’s hot climate. participating in the Olympics. the UK-China Joint ITS Center 40 years ago about that coun-
ian Training Course kicked off last The lecture was designed to “A horse in the Olympics is established by Beijing Jiaotong try’s future.
Friday with Doctor Christopher M help fi nd qualifi ed Chinese vet- worth at least several million yuan. If University and the University “It’s as exciting for me to
Riggs, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s erinarians to participate in the we’re not professional, how can they of Southampton. be here now as it was for me
head of Veterinary Clinical Services, event, he said. trust us with their horses? Studying “Some products of our to be in Canada then. China is
giving a lecture to mainland volun- “In China, most vets don’t in Hong Kong is a chance for us to research are already in use, and a fascinating place to be, and
teers on veterinary medicine. have a lot of experience working improve,” Chang Wei, the director are generating good feedback. I’m very honored to have the
Riggs discussed the diffi culties with horses. We need to train of the equestrian event, said. One is a transportation emu- chance to be at the fringes of
the Olympic veterinary team will them so, in the future, their abil- Selected applicants will be sent lator which helps us test new its change,” he said.
need to be prepared for. ity will be better.” to Hong Kong to work with other vet- methods on computer, and the The Great Wall Friendship
He said the equestrian cross- Riggs also said applicants erinarians in the equestrian event. other is a way to provide people was fi rst presented in 1999 by
country jumping is the most diffi - should have a mastery of English, Staff members from various live transportation informa- the Beijing Municipal Govern-
cult event, because the large fi eld so all interviews and lectures are sports associations, vets in the tion,” Wu said. ment. Each year, the govern-
makes it diffi cult to quickly reach done in English. equestrian team and jockey clubs Peter King, from Canada, ment awards working Beijing
the horses, and the nature of the There will be 50 vets on staff and professors and graduates from was another prizewinner for expats who have contributed
fi eld makes it easy for the horses for the Games, but only 13 vacan- China Agricultural University par- his dedicated teaching in to the city.
to get hurt, so they need to be cies for Chinese people, and it will ticipated in the training.
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B
January 26 2007
9
Foreign mayors help New guide
attracts
s
investment in
e
Beijing’s urban planning
Belgium
t
a
By Han Manman
Chinese interested in invest-
l
ing in Belgium can fi nd useful,
By Chu Meng u
practical information in Chinese
An international seminar on
now that the Belgian embassy
‘Balanced urban revitalization s
has launched its new investment
between social cohesion and
guide in Chinese at Tuesday’s n
heritage conservation’ was orga-
investment and trading sympo-
nized by United Nations Edu-
sium held in the embassy. o
cational, Scientifi c and Cultural
“Belgium is a worthwhile
Organization(UNESCO)’s Beijing
country for Chinese companies to c
Offi ce and Tsinghua University
invest in,” Belgian Ambassador to
this week in Beijing.
China Bernard Pierre said at the
Mayors from 30 internation- &
symposium.
ally renowned cities like Seoul,
The guide aims to entice Chi-
Lyon, Paris, Naples, Budapest,
nese companies to invest in Bel-
Porto Alegre, Barcelona and gium. Pierre said Belgium, with e
Isfahan shared how their cities
its population of 10 million, is
handled revitalization of histor- c
called ‘the heart of Europe,’ and
ical districts.
The seminar debates focused on has already drawn considerable r
foreign investment.
three themes: revitalization of his- e
The embassy plans to simplify
torical districts, preservation and
visa applications to grant visas to
reconstruction and fi nding the bal- m
Chinese citizens within 72 hours
ance between historical preserva-
to attract more investors.
tion and modernization.
Each theme was explored Belgium is earnest about pro- m
moting Belgium as the best choice
through case studies from differ-
for Chinese companies to invest
ent countries.
For 20 years, Spanish cities in, he said. o
The country’s advantages
like Barcelona have been exam-
ples of how careful laws and poli- The mayor from Seoul (middle) and Isfahan (right) visit the Huashi residential area in Chongwen including its ideal geographical C
district this Tuesday. Photo by Guo Tieliu position, perfect communication
cies can result in investment and
improved social equity and with- erful social, economic, cultural and Enyedi György, a UNESCO structures of a city, and in its build- network, a sturdy infrastruc-
out excluding historical districts. political force.” expert, said urban cultural heri- ings and monuments. ture and attractive tax policies,
Famous Catalan urban planner Borja said that building up a tage records the history of the city, Today the historic centers are Pierre said.
Jordi Borja said Tuesday, “Twenty- city, promoting citizen participa- of the people, of religions and of the features of the mayors’ cities. Chinese businesses are look-
eight years ago Barcelona was only tion and devising forward-look- social and cultural transformations Beyond cultural value, they also ing for a market for their products
emerging, but by the 1992 Olympic ing projects aren’t separate tasks, they go through. This can be seen fulfi ll an important function in and a place to invest in infra-
Games, the city had become a pow- but intertwined. in the spatial and the economic modern urban development. structure and logistics, the Bel-
gium embassy said.
A survey of 100 Chinese busi-
British embassy warns of fake email ness executives by Loyens, a Brus-
sels law fi rm, showed many see
Belgium as one of the most attrac-
By Han Manman Chevening, or other trusted orga- BC has warned that students who is the British Government’s fl ag- tive countries to invest in.
The British Council (BC) nizations, and can look identical to apply for scholarships will never ship scholarship. More than 80 percent of exec-
warned Chinese students this authentic emails. be asked for fi nancial details or The Chevening aims to give utives contacted in the survey said
week to be careful of the recent The links in the emails direct personal details beyond the scope opportunities for postgraduate stud- they planned to invest in a foreign
fake scholarship emails. users to fake websites that ask of the offi cial Chevening applica- ies and research at UK universities. country, and the majority favored
‘Spoof’ or ‘hoax’ emails and for personal information, such as tion form. The scholarship helps as many European nations over the US. n
websites are becoming a problem credit card numbers, usernames or Any questionable emails as 2,000 students from 150 coun- They ranked Belgium as the Ya
for unsuspecting Internet users, account passwords, to steal identi- should be confi rmed immedi- tries to study in the UK, of which 5th favorite country for invest- o
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the BC said. ties and commit other crimes. ately with the BC. more than 200 come from China – ment, the Netherlands and Ger- h
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The emails claim to be sent by Since the emails began, the The Chevening Scholarship the largest single national group. many being the top two. er:
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January 26 2007
10
Chocolatelove.org Events
Seminar: The Medici Effect
y The Medici Game is based
on the bestselling book The
t Medici Effect by Frans
It’s all about chocolate
Johansson. The game is
i
n designed to help organizations
inspire people and create con-
u ditions for producing innova-
By He Jianwei tions. It targets organizations
m A lady wore a gown made of across industries and people
brown silk damask and white arti- at all levels. Learn more about
fi cial sheepskin, creating a contrast it during a seminar organized
m in texture. Ribbons of different by the Swedish Chamber of
colors and textures added inter- Commerce.
esting detail. Where: Ball Room 1, fi rst
o This dress highlights the natu- fl oor of the Radisson SAS
ral colors of chocolates, and brings Hotel Beijing, 6A Beisanhuan
C together its tenderness and enchant- Dong Lu, Chaoyang
ment with the mystery and sensual- When: January 30, 9-11am
ity of the female body. Cost: Free for members;
This was the fashion show fi nale 300 yuan for non-members
for ‘Encounters with Chocolate, Tel: [phone] ext 313
Seven Reasons for Loving Choco-
late,’ a press conference organized Chinese chess workshop
by the Chocolate Information Center Learn xiangqi, Chinese
for the launch of its website chess, then challenge and
chocolatelove.org. amaze the elders playing on
The website provides health and street corners. The game is
nutrition information on chocolates, similar to chess, but Chinese
the history and culture of chocolate characters make it more fun.
and data on online chocolate clubs. Where: Chinese Culture
“Good quality chocolate is Club, Kent Center, No 29
benefi cial to human health, espe- Anjialou, Liangmaqiao Lu,
cially to the heart and blood pres- Chaoyang
sure. Chocolate is the best choice When: January 27,
of energy supplement,” Chang 2:30-4:30pm
Cuiqing, a doctor from the Insti- Cost: 60 yuan
tute of Sports Medicine, said. Tel: [phone] (Monday-
The Chocolate Information Friday, 9am-6pm), 6432 1041
Center is the fi rst organization (weekday mornings and eve-
to conduct special research on nings; weekends, rerouted to
the relationship between chocolate mobile phone)
and human health. They provide
research reports that aid various Basically Beethoven musi-
researchers, nutrition and health cal cvening
experts and journalists. Two girls wear clothes with M&Ms and Dove chocolates as decorations. Photo by Tian Yufeng Pianists, singers, violinists
and spoon players are welcome,
‘Mr Magic’ releases bilingual children’s book as, of course, are listeners. Bring
an instrument and get involved,
under the eye of the distin-
By Zhao Hongyi for China Radio International’s English, which I appreciate very, guished host, Paul Eldon.
Jim is a Kung fu boy-fi ghter Easy FM, the host of an English very much,” he said, “but I feel Where: Bookworm, Build-
time-traveling to the modern educational program on CETV1 too many Chinese children only ing 4, Nan Sanlitun Lu, Cha-
world. A thousand-year-old mon- and an English teacher at Bei- study English. With my books, oyang
ster also makes an appearance, jing’s Renmin University. they can use English while play- When: February 8, 7:30pm
stealing treasures around the In addition, he has written fi ve ing games and even while talking Admission: Free
world. Jim fi ghts The Stealing novels and edited over 20 aca- about the books.” Tel: [phone]
Monster and eventually defeats it demic English books for Chinese To make his books more Email:
n with the help of friends – Holly, students. He is also chair of an interesting and easy to read, he [email protected]
a
Y a girl detective, and her cousin; English language center in the invited his Chinese wife to pro-
ao Wild, a very strong girl; BA Kid eastern part of the city. vide a Chinese translation and Hiking: Silver Mountain &
Zh (By-accident Kid); and Ya Ya, a Thanks to his magic tricks, com- inserted eye-catching cartoons Pagoda Forest
ner: BeijTinhgis disu cthke. story of Christopher mmuunchic eaatisniegr .w ith kids has become bas“eIdt’ so nno tth we osrtko rdioens.e only by the roaHd tahizait v riullnasg en loiretsh o fnr oam qu tiheet
sig Parsons’s new bilingual book, The “I have many live magic shows two of us,” Parsons explained. He’s large village of Xia Zhuang,
e Handy Heroes 1: The Stealing Mon- planned, where the kids can come grateful to other expats for helping north of Beijing. It’s a lit-
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g ster, released in Beijing this week. and join in the interactive play – out in the design, licensing process tle-known area of quiet val-
Wei Yin Parsons and his Chinese readers MshaogwPiacs,r ’fs oobrne clsoa ciusas le ak lhsidoes ,pk wuntohswe onnn h ames fia‘ Mgrsicrt sditoa!” y t Phsaeirtyus oacnatinso nsuassi dea. nEdn gnloisth j uinst esvteurdyy- astnodrH ipeesri niisnt itnnogo .wm utrsyicianlgs , toso a dchapildt rheins ltiebhylees S aiallnvl edar r wMoouoonuddne.t daT inhh eipl lesha,i kkw evi itsihs-
n came to the city in 1994. “I’ve found that Chinese kids can practice singing in English, moderately difficult. Prepare
gxi Photo by Zhao Hongyi Since then, he has been a DJ are enthusiastic about learning along with the performers. your own picnic. Wear good
n hiking boots, a jacket and
Mi Saving energy as simple as ‘child’s play’ long pants and perhaps bring
u
o a walking stick.
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Y carbon dioxide emissions from cars, in the success of the energy saving billion kilowatts per year. Culture Club, Kent Center, No
A kicked off the World Wide Fund’s cause worldwide. Nowadays, 96 The WWF also encouraged 29 Anjialou, Liangmaqiao Lu,
(WWF) ‘20 Ways to 20 percent’ percent of all carbon dioxide emis- people to drive smartly by staying Chaoyang
D
campaign last Saturday. sions are related to urban dwellers’ within certain speed ranges, and When: January 28, 9am-
O Targeting the general public, energy consumption. warming up their vehicles before 4:30pm. Bus leaves at 9am.
the nationwide campaign aims to “Carbon dioxide has the big- driving. The group wants to make Cost: 180 yuan (includes
T
promote energy-saving practices gest effect on global warming, but if people understand that saving tickets and transportation)
that will help fulfi ll China’s goal every individual takes even a small energy is as simple and easy as Tel: [phone] (Monday-
G
of reducing its per GDP energy action, it will help relieve envi- The WWF event ‘child’s play,’ O’ Gorman said. Friday, 9am-6pm); 6432 1041
N consumption by 20 percent by ronmental problems,” Dermot O’ Photo provided by WWF Li Baohui, the father of a volun- (weekday mornings and eve-
I the end of the 11th ‘Five-year Gorman, WWF China representa- energy-saving tips by presenting a teer, said that ever since his daugh- nings; weekends, rerouted to
J Plan.’ It also hopes to mitigate tive, said. puzzle. Tips included keeping com- ter participated in the activities, mobile phone)
EI environmental issues caused by At the ceremony, eleven WWF puter screens a little darker, using she’s become more conscious about (By He Jianwei)
global warming. children volunteers, offered 20 energy-saving washing machines saving energy.
B