Spring Festival greetings in "wish trees"

Spring Festival greetings in "wish trees"

In Tianyi Square, six "wish trees" attracted citizens' attention with about a thousand greeting cards in them.

Painting dragons to greet the "Year of Dragon"

Recently, in a community in Haishu District, an artist was invited to teach the pupils in the community to paint dragons to greet the coming "Year of Dragon"

A party for the Spring Festival

The other day, Ningbo General Trade Union held a party of model workers for the coming Spring Festival.

Urban environment observation and research station settled in Beilun

It is learned from the Development and Reform Bureau of Beilun District that the project of Ningbo urban environment observation and research station by Chinese Academy of Sciences has been launched recently. The station will be settled to the south of the Siba Road of the coastal new town and to the northeast of the Chunxiao Lake with a total area of 40,000 square meters and a construction area of 20,000 square meters. With a total investment of about 170 million yuan, the project is expected to start its official operation in 2014.
As is known, as a research institute specialized in the comprehensive study of urban environment, the urban environment Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences was founded in Xiamen on July 4, 2006. The institute intended to form a "two-station" structure by launching two urban environment centers in two cities selected from the Yangtze River Delta city group and Zhujiang River Delta city group respectively. The station in Ningbo is just one of these two centers. Based in Ningbo and radiating to the Yangtze River Delta, the observation and research station will carry out researches and explorations in long-term urban environment observation and research, urban eco-environment and health, urban environment treatment and restoration technology, environmental engineering and recycling economy, urban planning and environmental policy research and development, and technology transfer, conversion and scale industrialization

Traffic police on alert for the coming rainy and snowy weather

To deal with the impact of the coming rainy and snowy weather on traffic, the traffic police sector of Ningbo has made careful arrangements and preparations to guarantee the traffic security during the Spring Festival period.

From today on, every day there will be over half of the traffic police force participating in the road management and strengthening inspections of some dangerous road sectors. In the meanwhile, close attention will be paid to the weather and road conditions. A number of traffic signs have been prepared so that in case of emergencies some mountain roads will be closed to traffic immediately.

To deal with the impact of the bad weather condition on the motorway traffic, Ningbo City Motorway Brigade launched the emergency plan to ease the traffic by taking such measures as intermittent release, segmented release and policecar-guided passage.

The traffic police also warned the citizens to maintain a safe speed and definitely avoid speeding while driving in a bad weather

Ningbo city leaders visiting veteran comrades

Just before the Spring Festival, five groups of related government officials led by city leaders Wang Huizhong, Liu Qi, Wang Yong, Wang Jianbo, Zhuwei, Cheng Yuechong and Wang Renzhou, went to visit old comrades Xiang Bingyan, Ye Chengyuan, Chen Yong, Zhang Liyi, Wang Xuezheng, Zhang Yongxiang, Fu Qingxiang, Song Ruifu and Xu Jizi, etc. They visited the sick and hospitalized veteran comrades and Red Army soldiers. They extended great respect and cordial greetings to the veteran comrades and wished them a happy Spring Festival, good health and longevity and a happy family.

At every stop, Wang Huizhong and Liu Qi paid the old comrades the New Year's call on behalf of the municipal party committee and municipal government. They inquired in detail about their health and living conditions, extended the Spring Festival regards and best wishes to them, briefly informed them of the last year's economic and social development situation and the next year's working objectives, and expressed gratitude to the veteran comrades for their contributions to the city's reform, development and stability. Wang Huizhong and Liu Qi also listened carefully to their views and suggestions to the work of the municipal party committee and municipal government, and hoped that they would continue to show their care and support for the work. The veteran comrades showed their gratitude to the leaders for the party committee and government's care for them, and expressed their sincere pleasure for the achievements in Ningbo's economic and social development.

Earlier, the related officials from the Organization Department and the Bureau of Retired Veteran Cadres of Ningbo Municipal Party Committee visited in groups 16 retired cadres (whose administrative level was over 14), family members of the late Red Army veterans, and some retired cadres with special living difficulties, and brought them care and greetings from the municipal party committee and municipal government

An urgent notice for snow and frost

On the evening of January 19, Ningbo Government Office issued an urgent notice to require all the departments in all levels in Ningbo to get fully prepared for the coming snow and ice storms and to ensure the people's normal production and living orders.

It is required that all the related departments should pay great attention in terms of thought, work, personnel and measures. The monitoring and early warning system should be strengthened,  close attention should be paid to the weather change and dynamic disaster situation and the predetermined plans should be launched timely if necessary.

Firstly, investigation should be enhanced, and great priority should be given to the security of people’s lives and properties. Specifically speaking, some endangered buildings and areas should be searched and the necessary reinforcement work should be carried out timely. Close attention should also be paid to the living condition of people in such key areas as the Seniors' Homes. Crop protection against cold and freezing conditions and agricultural disaster prevention work in greenhouses and other facilities should be carried out. The security investigation in crowded areas and the cold rain and snow prevention work should be strengthened.

Secondly, early preparation to guarantee the normal operation of various public facilities should be made. Great attention should be paid to such life-related facilities as water supply, electricity, gas and transport. Great importance should be attached to prevention work and safe production. Focuses should be put on the safety production of industrial and mining enterprises, high-rise buildings and construction sites for major projects. In the meanwhile, close attention should be paid to the fire safety of all crowded areas. The security management for the facilities in tourist attractions should be enhanced to provide timely tips for travelers and prevent visitors from travelling in bad weather. Health departments should organize the preparation of medical assistance to meet people’s needs for emergency medical treatment.

Thirdly, supplies should be guaranteed to ensure the normal order of production and life for urban and rural people. Such departments as trade, grain, prices and industry and business should carefully organize the supply of coal, electricity and oil, and the market supply of grain and oil, meat, eggs, vegetables and milk. The related departments should intensify the supervision and hold down the prices scientifically to meet the demand of the market.

The notice also required that all government departments should strengthen the duty system, arrange the shift work efficiently, implement the 24-hour duty system and leadership duty system, and submit information timely and accurately.

Ningbo's GDP exceeded 600 billion yuan in 2011

Statistics from Zhejiang Provincial Statistics Bureau on January 20 shows that in 2011, Ningbo's GDP exceeds 600 billion yuan, standing at 601.048 billion yuan, up by 10.0% over the previous year in terms of the comparable prices.

According to the statistics, the ratio of the three industries in last year's GDP was 4.2：55.5：40.3, and their respective rate of contribution to GDP stood at 1.7%, 55.6% and 42.7%, and respective rate of stimulation to the municipal economic growth at 0.1%, 5.6% and 4.3%. To be specific, the added value achieved by the first industry reached 25.576 billion yuan, an increase of 4.0% over the previous year. The added value of the second industry reached 333.537 billion yuan, up by 10.0% over the previous year. And the added value of the third industry reached 241.935 billion yuan, up by 10.7% over the previous year

Ningbo Steps up to Develop First-Class International Port

In 2011, the foreign trade via Ningbo Port for the first time exceeded 200 billion USD. According to the latest statistics from the Ningbo Customs, the import and export output reached $ 200.44 billion, up 24.2% over the previous year, making Ningbo a member of the “200 billion USD club" of I/E trade.

In terms of the trade volume, Ningbo Port is the seventh largest in China, only next to the ports of Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Nanjing, Qingdao and Huangpu.

Analysts believe this is an important milestone for Ningbo to pace up in building a first-class international port. It also marks the transition for Ningbo from a transportation port to a trade logistics port.

"200 billion USD of foreign trade has made great contribution to the fast yet steady economic growth of Ningbo last year", said Xu Gaochun, deputy secretary-general with Ningbo Municipal Government and director with the Port and Anti-smuggling Office of Ningbo.

Moving towards a first-class international port　　

Foreign trade via port is an important indicator of a city's competitiveness. Trade goes hand in hand with logistics. The development of trade promotes the growth of cargo throughput and container transport as well as port services, making tremendous revenue.

From 2007 to 2011, import and export output rose from $ 111.8 billion to $ 200.44 billion. Apart from the negative growth in 2009 which was due to the financial crisis, the growth in rest of the years was over $ 20 billion, with $ 39.1 billion last year.

Owing to the rapid growth of foreign trade, Ningbo has consolidated its role as a large port. Last year, Ningbo Port yielded 433 million tons' cargo throughput, with 230 million tons' foreign trade cargo throughput, up by 13.26% than the previous year. Its container throughput reached 14.512 million TEU, up by 11.6, ranking among the best in the world.

Port is playing a more important role in national economy. In 2011, Ningbo Customs received 75.692 billion yuan, up by 33.22%, reaching a historical high.

Yao Chengguang, chief with Ningbo Customs said, $ 200.44 billion is the statistics of the local areas by Ningbo Customs. In fact, the cargoes outgoing and coming in via the Port of Ningbo that are declared in customs elsewhere in China is far more than that. Taking Yiwu as an example, there are thousands of container lorry going between the city and Ningbo. These goods are declared in their local customs rather than in Ningbo.

Give full play to the hinterland

At the beginning of last year, while Ningbo is speeding up to build a first-class international port, the slogan "fine port environment, high working efficiency, fast customs clearance, low overall costs and a leading role among similar ports in the country" is listed in the targets of the twelfth five year plan.

"In the final analysis, the competitiveness of a port depends on the soft environment, which means fast and convenient customs clearance and fine port resources like coastline and terminals", said Chen Guorong, vice president with Ningbo Port Co.Ltd.

As many innovative services and reforms like joint transport of container highway, sea and railway through transport, assorted clearance and express release of exports are launched, shipping tycoons worldwide are opening routes in Ningbo. At the end of last year, 236 container lines have been opened, including 126 ocean-going main lines and 58 off-shore lines. There are 1268 container liner services each month in all.

Off-site companies have a say on the overall environment of the port. In 2011, foreign trade of these companies through Ningbo Port reached $ 122.76 billion, up by 27.9%, accounting for 61.2% of the total foreign trade that time, up 1.7 point than the end of last year.

The indirect hinterland of Ningbo Port has expanded to the rest of Zhejiang Province, Anhui Province, Jiangxi Province, Hubei Province, Hunan Province, Zhejiang-Jiangxi railway, the middle and upper reaches of Yangtz River as well as southwest and northwest areas.

Foreign trade via port depends on the extent of the hinterland. In some sense, it is natural that Ningbo Port has yielded over $ 200 billion last year.

Striving for an international port

After surpassing the threshold of $ 200 billion, how can Ningbo's foreign trade enjoy a better development?

Yejian, deputy chief with Ningbo Customs, said that Ningbo should work hard in bringing more imports so as to strive a balance between import and export. For example, the import of bulk cargo like grain and crude oil as well as medicine, medical appliance, machinery and equipment should be increased.

Last year, Ningbo Port yielded import of $ 76.69 billion, up by 26% and export of $ 123.75 billion, up by 23.1%. "It is a very good beginning that the growth of import is faster than export. But it is not enough", said Xu Gaochun. It is a vital way to develop import trade vigorously if Ningbo is to build a first-class international port. Tianjin and Huangpu's foreign trade has been soaring since its auto import is allowed.

At the same time, Ningbo Port needs to transform from a port of China to a port of the world. Experts say Ningbo should learn from Singapore, the largest transit port in the Asian-Pacific region. It should also strive to improve its re-export capacity, give full play to its role as a logistics hub and take the initiative to go global in order to achieve new development in foreign trade