From our archives

Jan 9, 1984

Computer use pushed by Tianjin, Shanghai

Shanghai has been allocating 3 million yuan annually in recent years in a bid to popularize computers by encouraging computer research and utilization, as well as offering professional training to factory directors, technicians and students, the Economic Daily reports.

The municipality is already using computers for management in 14 trades including factories, department stores, customs offices, banks, railway stations and foreign trade departments.

Meanwhile, another city, Tianjin, is also speeding up this work as it has set up four research institutes, one software center and a service company employing more than 6,800 people.

Beijing's TVs in world market

The Beijing Dongfeng Television Plant is now selling its products in 12 countries and regions including Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland and Singapore.

The plant began to export 12-inch black and white sets in 1981. By last December, it has sold nearly 30,000 sets.

The products sell well on international markets mainly because of their quality, which has been greatly improved since 1979 when the plant set up a 12-inch black and white production line with the help of a Japanese company.

Weather forecast proves profitable

Heilongjiang province has become aware of the benefits of weather forecasting since the province gained more than 26 million yuan profit from accurate weather predictions last year.

Because of the forecast, the province planted wheat in 200,000 more hectares than it had previously planned. By adjusting the ratio of wheat and other crops and by using fertilizer to mature the wheat earlier, grain output reached 15 million tons, an all-time record.

Weather forecasting has also proved important for lowering losses caused by forest fires, and rail and water transport disruptions.

(China Daily 01/08/2009 page9)