Toothpaste makers on brink of sales bonanza in China
More than one-third of China's populace, including 57% of those living in the countryside, have yet to add brushing their teeth to their daily regimen. If each of these consumers were to buy one tube of toothpaste per month, the market would double by 6 billion more tubes sold each year. Consumers aren't avoiding toothpaste products for economic reasons, it is simply a question of (lack of) habit. In the second half of 2000, sales of oral hygiene products are expected to rise 68%. (Beijing Evening News, 24 July)

Real estate sector seeks foreign investment
China will have to maintain an annual growth rate of 15% in its residential housing construction in the early 21st century in order to meet the housing needs of the Chinese people and, therefore, encourages foreign investment in its real estate sector. By 2005, China needs at least 1.5 billion square meters of urban residential housing and 3.5 billion square meters of rural housing. Additionally, 2.9 billion square meters of old residential houses need to be renovated. (ChinaOnline, 24 July)

End to subsidized off-duty status for laid-off workers?
According to the July 20 Hexun Caijing (Homeway Financial News), the government has decided to accelerate the reform of state-owned enterprises by gradually abolishing its off-duty employment system by 2003. Under this system, workers laid off by SOEs still receive subsistence stipends for up to three years. 

Chinese prefer foreign dairy products
In China's saturated dairy market, foreign dairy products sell well in spite of high prices while producers of indigenous products suffer from serious overstocking despite lower prices. There are currently close to 1,000 dairy enterprises in China. With outdated equipment and backward technology, most are unable to meet customers' demand for high quality and high variety products (ChinaOnline, 24 July).

Car prices under pressure
While customers are waiting on the fences for lower car prices following China's accession to the WTO (and dramatic reductions of import tariffs), the large domestic producers are lowering prices considerably or giving away incentives, including mobile phones and computers. (People's Daily, 25 July)

Foreigners allowed to trade in A-shares
According to China Securities Regulatory Commission, foreign investors will soon be able to trade in China's domestic A-share market, in the country's first initiative to speed up the merger of its renminbi-based A-share and hard currency dominated B-share stock markets. (People's Daily, 25 July)

World Bank loans Beijing USD 349 million to improve air quality, sewage treatment
The World Bank recently approved a USD 349 million loan for the 2nd phase of Beijing's environmental-protection projects (BEPP). These projects will decrease the city's air pollution and improve its sewage-treatment system. The total investment of the BEPP's phase II project is USD 1.26 billion. It will be completed by 2006. (ChinaOnline25 July)

More tourists to China in first half 2000
40.14 million registered tourists entered China in the first half of 2000 (up 15.72%). In this period, the tourism sector generated RMB 64.98 billion in foreign currency (up 18.54%). (ChinaOnline25 July)

Electricity output up 9.9% in first half
The sources of this electricity included hydropower, nuclear power and thermal power. Consumption of electricity also kept pace, increasing 10.3% from January through May. (ChinaOnline, 25 July)

Plans for new securities market delayed
Government has delayed the set up of a Nasdaq-style market for high-growth companies until early 2001, dealing a setback to China's capital-starved private sector. Regulators originally hoped to launch the new market this year. (The Asian Wall Street Journal, 25 July)

Cost of welfare doubles
The mainland spent almost twice as much on social security in the first six months of this year compared with the same period last year. Spending on social security is expected to increase in coming years and the Government hopes to raise funds by imposing a new social security tax and through the sale of the Government's shares in state-owned enterprises and the sale of lottery tickets. (South China Morning Post, 26 July)

Shanghai plans 4 Huangpu crossings
Shanghai is planning to build three more tunnels and a bridge across the Huangpu River, at a cost of nearly RMB 8 billion. The four projects, to be completed by 2005, would be partially financed by state funds but would also include corporate investment as well as money from the public. (South China Morning Post, 26 July)

EU steps up pressure on counterfeiting
European Union Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy wrote to Shi Guangsheng, Minister of Foreign Trade, asking him to look after the protection of copyright and trademarks of European companies which have incurred losses worth millions of Euro. (South China Morning Post, 26 July)

Subway construction in major cities
In the next five years, China will built 400 kilometers of subway lines at a total investment of RMB 130 billion. More than 2000 track vehicles will be needed. The cities include Shenyang, Dalian, Chongqing, Wuhan, Nanjing, Xian and Chengdu. (China Watcher, 26 July)

Smuggling worth RMB 12.7 billion uncovered last year
More than 21,100 smuggling cases worth over RMB 12.7 billion were uncovered in 1999. The trend appears to slow down this year. So far, customs officers investigated more than 10,000 cases but their combined value amounted to only RMB 2.8 billion. (South China Morning Post, 27 July)

First insurance broker company opens in Shanghai
Shanghai Dongda Insurance Brokers Co., Ltd., opened its doors in Shanghai. Last December the China Insurance Regulatory Commission approved the establishment of the country's first group of three insurance brokers companies, in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. (People's Daily, 27 July)

China's textile industry: from becoming profitable to upgrading
China's textile industry earned RMB 8 billion in profits during the first half of this year, three times more than the same period last year. Analysts say that now, the major task of China's textile industry has changed from becoming profitable to upgrading the industry in order to prepare it for international competition. (People's Daily, 27 July)