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Category: On The Campus
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Published: Tuesday, 25 September 2012 15:15
As a new semester begins in most Ningbo schools last week, many local universities and colleges saw an increase in female students.
In Ningbo Institute of Education, the students are predominantly female in recent years. In 2012, the number of female students in the school accounts for 88 percent, a record high. The school enrolled 1,015 new students in 2012, including 893 females and only 122 males. They enrolled more than 200 pre-school education majors, but only six are male students.
And it's not just vocational schools that are seeing a rise in female students. The same situation happened in some comprehensive universities in Ningbo. Ningbo University enrolled a total of more than 8,000 freshmen this year, and the gender ratio was 45:55 (male to female). Women students definitely dominate such majors as languages study.
Zhejiang Wanli University enrolled 4,989 freshmen, including 2,256 boys and 2,733girls, or 45.2 percent male students and 54.8 percent female students, remaining a similar gender ratio with Ningbo University.
Even science and engineering-based universities like Ningbo University of Technology tend to see higher female enrollment. The school enrolled a total of 3,353 new students this year, with boys accounting for 58.66 percent and girls 41.34 percent. Girls dominate the liberal arts majors, especially language majors. The Japanese language program recruited 51 girls and only 10 boys. Another example is the Chinese Language program, which attracted 70 girls but only 11 boys.
However, many employers in Ningbo prefer male applicants when hiring employees, which makes female graduates more difficult to find jobs and less opportunities to get promotion than their male counterparts.
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Category: Ningbo Business
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Published: Tuesday, 25 September 2012 15:14
Brazil has decided to increase the import tariffs it imposes on hundreds of products, the Foreign Trade Commission of Brazil said on September 6. The change is meant to encourage Brazilian companies to make similar products amid the current global economic troubles. The new measure might affect Ningbo's exportation to Brazil.
According to the new measures, the import taxes Brazil imposes on tiles will increase from 15 percent to 35 percent, on bicycles from 20 percent to 35 percent, on air conditioners from 18 percent to 35 percent, and on bicycles and car tires 16 percent to 25 percent.
The substantial increase of tariffs was a surprise to most industry insiders. An even larger tariff hike is on mineral oil, which increases from 4 percent to 25percent.
Inspection and quarantine experts pointed out that major target of Brazil's tariff hike is China. The new measures will also have a direct impact on other Chinese-made products including automobiles, tires, glass, pharmaceutical, mechanical and electrical products, and footwear. China may be the biggest victim of Brazil's protectionism.
In addition, Brazil will also implement anti-dumping sanctions on carbon steel pipe imported from China.
Brazil's move is affecting many exporters in Ningbo, who have seen rising exporting volume to Brazil in recent years.
Statistics from Ningbo Inspection and Quarantine Bureau show, there are more than 1,000 Ningbo exporters to Brazil, exporting 6,977 batches of products from January to August, worth $ 276 million, an increase of 20.27 percent and 11. 73 percent over the same period last year.
Ningbo mainly exports products like automobiles, bike accessories, lamps, small home appliances, and clothing to Brazil. The exportation of agricultural products, chemical industry, machinery and equipment is relatively small.
An owner of a local exporting company said the heavy tariff increases means a price hike of their products, which inevitably hurts the competitiveness in price.
Inspection and quarantine experts pointed out that the enterprises should make efforts to optimize the structure of foreign trade and increase their reputation when carrying out the "go global" strategy.
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Category: Governmental News
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Published: Tuesday, 25 September 2012 15:14
2012 Ningbo-Hong Kong Economic Cooperation Forum officially kicked off in Ningbo on Tuesday. On the previous evening, the municipal government held a banquet to welcome the overseas guests who participate in the forum. Wang Huizhong, Ningbo's Party Chief attended the banquet. Liu Qi, Ningbo Mayor, delivered a welcoming speech.
The forum assembles leaders and entrepreneurs from Hongkong and mainland, represented by Gregory So, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development, Fred Lam, Executive Director of Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Zhang Dexiu, editor-in-chief of People's Daily Overseas Edition, Zang Qiutao, vice chairman of China Everbright Group, Yu Liming, vice president of China Merchants Group, Wang Chuandong, Vice President of China ResourcesGroup, and Zhuang Xiaotian, (former vice mayor of Shanghai), the Honorary President of Ningbo General Chamber of Commerce.
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Category: Ningbo District
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Published: Tuesday, 25 September 2012 15:13
A grand sacrificial ceremony held in Xiangshan of Ningbo last Sunday kicked off the 15th China Fishing Festival. Xiangshan, the famous fishing county, is one of the six largest fishing ports in China.
Luo Fuhe, Vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), announced the opening of the 15th China Fishing Festival. Meanwhile, many government officials, related experts and scholars from many international and national marine organizations, marine research institutes, colleges and universities attended the ceremony together with other honored guests home and abroad.
After Ma Weiguang, Ningbo's Vice Mayor, delivered an opening speech, Zhao Limin, director of the Provincial Oceanic and Fisheries Bureau, announced the beginning of the fishing season. Exactly at 12 o'clock at noon, with the first sound of the gong as a symbol for sailing, thousands of ships were leaving for their "first fishing journey".
In local tradition, the fishermen in Xiangshan hold a sacrificial rite for the sea at the beginning of each fishing season, appreciating the bounty of the ocean and praying for safety and good harvest. The China Fishing Festival was first launched in 1998. Up to now, it is successfully held annually throughout 14 years. Over the past 14 years, the China Fishing Festival has developed diversified features. It comprises of ceremonies, forums, performances, trade and tourism, and a dozen of colorful activities. In recent years, the sacrificial ceremony became a major part of the China Fishing Festival, which aims to promote the fishing culture of the region.