Briefs
China Website
The China Overseas Exchanges Association went online at the beginning of the new year. The website at http://www.coea.org has six sections to give overseas Chinese the latest news from China, details of educational developments, consultation on laws and regulations, tourism information, medical news and hometown news.
Lower Fees
Telecommunications service fees are to be lowered significantly, according to a news release from a two-day hearing held in Beijing by the Ministry of Information Industry and the State Development Planning Commission. The ministry has put forward a plan to lower fees for leased telephone lines and international telephone calls, and to raise fees for local calls and postal services. As a result, the general level of overall charges for telecommunications and postal services will drop significantly, the news release said.
Language Training
China Radio International is offering five language training programmes -- English, German, Spanish, standard Chinese (Putonghua) and Cantonese -- on the Internet. The programmes commenced at the end of 1998 on the new China Radio website at http://www.cri.com.cn. The homepage also offers color photographs and special features such as "China's Implementation of Reform and Opening-up over the Past 20 Years " and "Welcoming Macao's Return to the Motherland. "
Green Zone
Construction has begun on the Wanliu Project, a large residential and afforestation zone in Beijing's northwestern suburbs. The local government plans to invest 6.1 billion yuan (US$734 million) in the project. Covering 480 hectares, the project will help improve the capital's drinking water and air quality.
Trees Planted
Beijing developed 15,800 hectares of new forest land last year, 58 percent more than the target. The city planted 11.6 million trees in its rural areas and 1.85 million trees in urban areas. By the end of 1998, the capital's urban afforestation rate reached 34.9 percent, while grassland areas reached 8.18 square meters per capita.
Visa Pledge
Beijing's border entry and exit department has announced it will began processing passport and visa applications every Saturday plus weekdays from January this year. It has also pledged to increase efficiency during its daily 8-hour work schedule and strictly observe relevant laws and regulations in handling applications, according to Yu Guohai, a division chief of the department, which is part of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau.
Intellectual Property
China's first case-book on the infringement and protection of intellectual property rights was recently released in Beijing by the Documentation Publishing House of the State Intellectual Property Bureau. It contains details of 18 disputes over patent application, copyright and the design and use of trademarks over the past 10 years.
Railway Plans
China plans to pour at least 55 billion yuan (US$6.65 billion) into railway construction in 1999, according to Minister of Railways Fu Zhihuan. The country will establish 1,320 kilometers of new railway lines, 970 kilometers of double tracks, and 730 kilometers of electrified railways in the new year. China's railway transportation department anticipates turnover of 96.4 billion yuan (US$ 11.66 billion) this year.
Anniversary Projects
The 67 major Beijing projects scheduled for completion to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in October this year will be completed within the year, according to Vice-Mayor Wang Guangtao. The wide-ranging projects involve infrastructure, science and education, trade and cultural facilities, and residential housing. They will be completed at a total cost of 110 billion yuan (US$ 13.3 billion).
New Academicians
The Chinese Academy of Engineering announced in Beijing recently that it would name 120 new academicians this year. According to Zhu Gaofeng, the academy's vice-president, the selections will be made among senior engineers, researchers and professors who have made major contributions to engineering science and technology and the application of new inventions. He said the candidates also include engineers of Chinese nationality residing outside the mainland.
AIDS Club
China's first AIDS club, the non-governmental "Home of the Red Ribbon, " was set up recently at Beijing's Ditan Hospital, a leading AIDS clinic. It has accepted eight AIDS patients and a number of medical workers as its first members.
The club plans to act as a bridge between AIDS patients and the rest of society, since it is still difficult for these patients to live a normal life, said Lun Wenhui, a worker at the club.
The aim of the club is to make life a little easier for virus carriers and patients across the country. The club will hold lectures and symposiums and publish magazines, and also invite legal professionals, journalists and social workers to join with the aim of protecting patients' interests and rights and prodiving psychological counseling. It also plans to open a web site, also named "Home of the Red Ribbon, " in order to provide the latest information to help AIDS patients support one another.
Olympic Bid
The Chinese Olympic Games Committee approved Beijing's bid application for the 2008 Olympic Games on January 7. "I am going to pass it to the International Olympic Committee at Lausanne next month, " said Wu Shaozu, president of the Chinese Olympic Committee. "Beijing's follow-up work will soon start. The Chinese Olympic Committee will give full support to Beijing's application. "
Top People
Beijing Youth Daily announced its list of the Ten People of the Year for 1998 recently.
Gao Jiancheng, who sacrificed his life for others while fighting the floods last summer, ranked first. Sang Lan was ranked second for the courage she showed after her tragic injury during a gymnastics competition in the United States. China's film industry had two representatives in the list with Zhang Yimou and Ge You. The success of "Turandot in the Forbidden City " also helped make Zhang one of Time's top ten people of last year.