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Editor's note Official: Bridge Linking Beijing and Foreign Business Communities Development Smoother, Faster; Economic Structure Continued to Improve Foreign Banks Granted More Freedom in Currency Business Verbatim

Number

71.3 percent

According to a survey, 71.3 percent of Beijing residents followed the World Cup championships in Germany on either TV or radio. Among those watching live broadcasts, 54 percent were male and 20.4 percent were students.

20 percent

China's fiscal revenue soared almost 20 percent in 2005 to hit a record 3.16 trillion yuan (US$395 billion), Finance Minister Jin Renqing delivered a report to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's legislature, on June 27, 2006.

297.5 billion

China's central treasury allocated 297.5 billion yuan (US$37.2 billion) to aid farming and rural development and raise farmers' incomes last year, up 13.3 percent from 2004.

3.73 billion

China's aircraft imports were valued at US$3.73 billion in the first five months, up 137.9 percent year on year, said sources with the General Administration of Customs (GAC) on June 26. A report from the Customs office said China imported 135 aircraft during the first five months, a year-on-year increase of 78.9 percent.

241 billion

The profits reported by China's top ten oil and gas firms totalled 241 billion yuan (US$30 billion) in 2005. China's energy producing sector, including the oil and gas exploitation and power generation aspects, was among the top performers from among 100 major industrial sectors of the nation in 2005, according to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics on June 23.

10.3 percent

China's economy will grow by 10.3 percent in the first half of 2006, and then slow marginally for a full-year expansion of 10 percent, the central bank said in a new report on June 26.

37.4 percent

Profits of China's iron and steel industry during the first five months of 2006 dropped by 37.4 percent over the corresponding period in 2005, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on June 22.

34 billion

China will spend at least 34 billion yuan (US$4.3 billion) to phase out persistent organic pollutants (POPs) within 10 years, a Chinese environmental official said on June 21.

1.4 percent

China's consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.4 percent year-on-year in May, said sources with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on June 12.

141,000 overseas students

Statistics released by the Ministry of Education showed that in 2005, 141,000 overseas students came to China to study, an increase of 27.28 percent from the previous year, with 86,679 studying Mandarin (Putonghua).

13 agreements

China and South Africa on June 21 signed 13 agreements during a visit to South Africa by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his meeting with South African President Thabo Mbeki. The agreements addressed cooperation in a wide range of fields such as politics, economy, trade, national defence, agriculture, technology and sciences.

17.9 percent

China's industrial production grew 17.9 percent in May from the same month last year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on June 15.