- Details
-
Category: Ningbo News
-
Published: Tuesday, 14 February 2012 11:37
According to a news briefing held by Ningbo Municipal Education Bureau on Feb 7, in 2012 the municipal government will set regulations on identification and management of non-governmental inclusive kindergartens. The upcoming regulation aims to bring down the tuition fees of inclusive private kindergartens to the same level of the public counterparts. "In this way, the tuition fees of some private kindergartens will be reduced. This will be an important move in the field of education in Ningbo this year." an official from Ningbo Municipal Education Bureau said.
Of the 1197 kindergartens in Ningbo, more than 900 are private kindergartens, with public kindergartens only accounting for 20 percent. It is learned that most private kindergartens, with inadequate facilities and teaching resources, charge more than public ones. In 2012, Ningbo Municipal Education Bureau pledged to give support to certain private kindergartens.
Sources said that the special funds for pre-school education in 2011 rose from 10 million yuan to 30 million yuan. The figure will rise to 50 million in 2012, with 20 million yuan intended to be used in support of private inclusive kindergarten.
Meanwhile, the municipal government vows to improve the quality of rural kindergartens in relatively less developed areas by increasing the input in pre-school education. Legally, there shall be at least one public kindergarten in each township. According to the plan, 100 rural kindergartens in relatively less developed areas shall be renovated and all the rural kindergarten in Ningbo shall be qualified and standardized.
In 2011, 80 kindergartens were renovated and expanded. In 2012, the municipal government will continue to improve the quality of pre-school resources, with another 80 kindergartens to be renovated and expanded according to the plan.
- Details
-
Category: Ningbo Business
-
Published: Tuesday, 14 February 2012 11:37
Recently, a shipping company in Hong Kong has obtained 135 million yuan loans from the Export-Import Bank of China Ningbo Branch, initiating the first cross-border RMB loans in Ningbo.
In November 2011, the Export-Import Bank of China Ningbo Branch signed a RMB loan contract with the Hong Kong shipping company. The loans, taking the form of export buyer's credit, shall be used to pay a Ningbo shipbuilder. In December 2011 and January 2012, the bank has issued 101 million yuan and 34 million yuan loans respectively to the Hong Kong shipping company.
The major cross-border RMB loan enables buyers and sellers to avoid the losses they might otherwise have incurred due to exchange rate changes. In addition, it opens a new financing channel for overseas buyers.
It is learned that the People's Bank released guidance of RMB loans of overseas projects in October 2011, clarifying the specific procedures of the cross-border RMB loans. The experts believe that the cross-border RMB loans service not only promotes the internationalization of the RMB but also offers more support to foreign trade enterprises in Ningbo.
- Details
-
Category: Ningbo News
-
Published: Tuesday, 14 February 2012 11:36
The Wireless City Project, which offers free wireless service in public places, is not only a move to improve the competitiveness of Ningbo but also an important livelihood projects for the general public. In 2012, the local government of Haishu District, in corporation with three mobile operators, has kicked off "the optical wireless city construction", aiming to achieve full coverage of commercial buildings, commercial blocks, and other major public areas by the end of 2012. Many internet-users expressed a strong interest in the service.
In July 2011, the local government has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Ningbo Branch of China Mobile on Wireless City Project. As the leading operator, Ningbo Branch of China Mobile shall invest 70 million yuan, offering wireless service for 235 hot spots including government offices, public service buildings and other public places. At present, more than 150 hot spots have been on service. "The public wireless network is more than an easy access to internet. With it, people can enjoy convenient intelligent services like traffic guidance, travel management, bus schedule, etc." said Chan Kam Feng, deputy manager of Ningbo Branch of China Mobile.
"There is huge market potential for the wireless businesses in the urban center, with lots of commercial complexes and office-buildings." an official from Ningbo Branch of China Telecom said. He added that they plan to invest 150 million yuan in Haishu in the next two years, optimizing and expanding wireless coverage.
"Local residents or tourists would have free access to wireless network any time at any place in urban center like Tianyi Square, and Heyi Road with their computer or smart mobile phone, as long as their machines supports WiFi Internet access, " an official from Haishu Economic and Information Technology Bureau said. According to the plan, the local government will pay China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom for the wireless services they provide. Wireless urban construction still has a long way to go. More efforts will be made to expand and optimize the network
- Details
-
Category: Ningbo News
-
Published: Tuesday, 14 February 2012 11:33
How to Celebrate the Chinese Lantern Festival this year has been a topic of concern for the local residents in Ningbo recently. Resources from the Municipal Bureau of Tourism said, the Lantern Day in 2012 will be highlighted by traditional elements like the lantern shows and riddle guessing as well as a number of delicate cuisines. In addition, more Lantern Festival events will be held in squares and museums downtown, not limit to temples and old towns in the past.
In Ninghai, the annual Lantern Festival carnival presents a beautiful landscape for the locals and visitors. The unique Drums and Pavilions Parade will be held in Qiantong ancient town, a town renowned in Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces for its cultural flavor.
In Ninghai, the 14th day on the first lunar month, instead of the 15th day, is celebrated as the Lantern Festival, which is commonly known as "the 14th Night". Besides traditional activities like eating "yuanxiao" and watching lantern show, the local residents will enjoy the magnificent drum pavilions parade, rich-contented customs and firework displays.
From February 4 to February 12, a series of lantern fairs will be held at Wanda Plaza, Jiangbei district. From 10:00 am to 22:00 pm, visitors can participate in riddles guessing and different games while eating "yuanxiao".
Lantern Fair this year has six areas, which are the performance area, the riddles-guessing area, food service area, flower display area, exhibition area and recreation area. Riddles guessing are the highlight of this Lantern Fair. The organizers have invited more than 20 star hotels, restaurants, and more than 30 traditional snacks sellers to provide food service for the visitor