Philips in China：Fishing with a Long Line

ROYAL Philips Electronics first entered China in 1920 and established the very first joint venture in 1985. With its accumulated investment worth in excess of US $2.6 billion, Philips owns 35 joint ventures and sole proprietorships in China. After seven quarters of losses, Philips began to profit in 2003. During this time, the Chinese market played an important role for Philips - its business in China maintained a good profit record. "China's economy has helped provide for speedy and stable growth," said Philips' president Gerard Kleisterlee on a 2003 visit to China. "It is a high point of the world economy and one of Philips' most important markets. We are confident about our business in China and the future of China's development."     

Athens Has Gone, Beijing Is Coming：More Investment, More Gold Medals

Having attended various meetings oJcelebration and citation, Cui Dalin, deputy chief of the Chinese Sports Delegation to the Athens Olympic Games, heaves a sigh of relief as he sits in his spacious office in the Training Bureau of the State General     

From Pips to Quips

THE next time you call a handset, don't be surprised if you hear a cute, Bart Simpson style voice answer: "Hi! This is Handset Xiaoqiang. John Q is in a pretty bad mood these days because of too much overtime. When your call gets connected, be nice and let him grouch on about his boss for, oh about twenty minutes I guess. Ready? You're through." Nowa-     

Who＇S staying Home？

IN a small western Hunan village on Lunar New Year‘s Eve, Zhou Yunlan sets bowls and chopsticks out for her deceased husband, daughter Xiaoman and son-in-law, both of whom work in Guangzhou City.Migrant workers from rural areas like Xiaoman and her husband represent     

Psychological Barriers：Students Under Pressure

MA Jiajue, 23, came from an impoverished rural family in a remote village in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Enrolled at the renowned Yunnan University, Ma found himself unable to cope with a study environment. He had anger issues stemming from shame about his family's poverty and made few friends. In February, after an altercation with his classmates, Ma bludgeoned four of them to death. This incident shocked the entire nation. Many asked, what's wrong with our children?     

Town of Ancientry and Ethnicity

IN 2004. the Chinese government set itself the goal of building ar-harmonious society, and still more emphasis has been put on this goal in 2005. Building an harmonious society means not only encouraging growth of GDP, but also achieving harmonious coexistence between human beings and nature, and coordinated development of various social aspects. Putting into practice this-concept has revitalized Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in southwestern China's Yunnan Province.     

Embracing Western Ways While Cleaving to Tradition

Colorfully coiffured Chinese youth dressed in up-to-the-minute grunge listening to rock music as they walk,or sitting in a group discussing last night‘s NBA league match are common sights in Chind‘s large cities,Western,particularly stateside,youth culture is rapidly incorporating itself into everyday urban Chinese life,What does the country‘s youth and society in general think about this cultural omslaught?     

Riding the World Heritage Gravy Train

TO tour guide Wang Yanli, Chengde's world heritage status is far more than just a source of civic pride. "Chengde's minimum living standard is 218 yuan a month. These days tour guides earn around 3,000 yuan a month," she explains cheerfully. Increasing numbers of visitors to Chengde have made tour guiding a relatively lucrative occupation. Within its 18.6 square kilometer area are more than 60 travel agencies employing 2,000 tour guides. Most sprang up during the mid-1990s     

Overseas Reaction to China-made Small Commodities

ON September 16, 2004, a warehouse full of stock for a Chinese shoe shopping center in Elche, Spain was completely burnt down, causing 1 million euros worth of damage. From March 12 to 16, 2005, 114 containers of Wenzhou-pro-duced shoes worth more than RMB 100 million (US $12 million) were confis-     

Fund Shortages Frustrate Development in Higher Education

HUANG Yue is a third-year student at Jiangsu's Lianshui County No.1 Senior Middle School. Her teacher is confident of her ability to enter a top university, but Huang has reservations. She thinks it unlikely that her parents' combined few hundred yuan monthly income will be enough to finance a university education. According to the FinancialDepartment of the Ministry of