From our archives

Oct 21, 1983

Rising need for electrical appliances

China produced 2.67 million washing machines and 130,000 refrigerators in the first nine months of this year, increases of 45.9 percent and 88.8 percent respectively over the corresponding period last year, said the State Statistical Bureau.

But the growth in production lags far behind demand, which has increased since last summer following a rise in people's purchasing power.

Commercial departments in Beijing are having difficulty in meeting orders for twin-tub washing machines and refrigerators placed at the beginning of this year. New orders will not be accepted until early next year.

Nuclear technology exhibition

Models of China's planned nuclear power station in Guangdong province and a linear accelerator for medical work are among the exhibits at a national exhibition on application of nuclear technology that opened in Beijing recently.

Photos, models and products on display show how China is applying nuclear technology in industry, agriculture, public health and scientific research since work in this field began in the mid-1950s.

Workers in Shanghai make up for lost study

More than 800,000 young workers in Shanghai have finished refresher courses and attained a middle-school level of education since May 1982, and another 1.2 million workers will have made up for the lessons in chemistry, physics, mathematics and language by the year of 1985, according to the local government.

The government, the trade unions, and factory management have in the past few years set up an education network that has resulted in half of the city's 4.75 million workers taking up part-time or full-time studies.

(China Daily 10/22/2008 page9)