1.     Youth Daily: This year, Shanghai has made immense progress in rail transport construction. The western extension of Metro Line No. 2 and the northern extension of Metro Line No. 3 were completed. Could you please sum up this year’s work in the rail transport construction? Is there a plan for next year? The third question, has Shanghai made any achievements in building the Shanghai Harbor International Passenger Terminal?

Jiao Yang: The construction of rail transport has always been a focus of Shanghai’s citizens. Eight lines were working simultaneously in 2006. The western extension of Metro Line No. 2 will launch its trial operation at the year’s end. The northern extension of Metro Line No. 3 has been put into use, extending Shanghai’s operational rail transport network to 145 kilometers. The structural work of Line 6, Line 8 and the first phase of Line 9 will finish within this year. The resident relocation for Line 7, 10, 11 and the second phase of Line 9 will basically conclude this year, and construction of the four lines’ stations will start. The work in 2006 has on schedule.

In 2007, Shanghai will put three lines into operation. They are Metro Line 6, Line 8 and the first phase of Line 9. By the end of 2007, Shanghai will have eight operational lines, 163 operational stations, including 17 where more than two lines connect. The operational lines will stretch more than 230 kilometers, further improving Shanghai’s traffic and facilitating people’s commuting and travel needs.

The reporter also paid attention to the construction of the International Passenger Terminal. The terminal includes three aspects – the international passenger wharf, a passenger terminal building and a port administrative building. The wharf has basically been built, and the two other buildings are under construction. The terminal, excluding the wharf, will cover an area of more than 130,000 square meters. Its total area will be 311,760 square meters.

Upon completion, the terminal will have three 80,000-ton berths for passenger ships, which can handle 500 ships and one million travelers a year. The terminal will contribute to the growth in passenger volume and the development in tourism and cruise ship industries. It will also propel the development of the northern Bund, making it into a riverside characterized by the shipping industry.

2.     Nihon Keizai Shimbun: I have several questions. The first question is about the Shanghai World Expo. The post of director for the executive committee of the Shanghai World Expo is still vacant. When will this position be filled? The second question is: how are the plans for Shanghai’s Disneyland progressing? The third question is about the maglev project. In March, there was news about Shanghai’s plan to extend the maglev line to Hangzhou. Do you have any progress to report? Thank you.

Jiao Yang: The World Expo is a big project of the country. Major officials for the World Expo will be appointed by the state. Secondly, as for the construction of a Disneyland and the Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev project, our spokesperson team has been responding to these issues. I have no more to supplement now. Big construction projects, such as Disneyland, should be approved by the state. Shanghai will completely conform to the central government’s decision. I have also talked about the Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev project. The National Development and Reform Commission have reviewed the project proposal. A feasibility study is under way. Thank you.

3.     Shanghai TV Station: I remember you mentioned at last year’s conference that Shanghai would increase per capita farmer’s income to 8,600 yuan in 2006. Actually, we did better than what we had planned. Today I’ve noticed you didn’t release the planned figure for 2007. I am not sure if such a figure is available.

Jiao Yang: You are very responsive, comparing last year’s data with this year’s. We released last year’s stats at the beginning of this year, but we released this year’s at the year’s end. Many goals for next year should be reviewed by the Shanghai People’s Congress plenary session. The goals have already been set.

Next year, Shanghai will take advantage of the progress in science to accelerate developments of modern agriculture, as required by the State Council. Shanghai will continue efforts to keep farmers’ disposable incomes on the rise. In 2007, farmers in Shanghai are expected to earn eight percent more than this year.

4.     Eastday.com: I’m a reporter from Eastday.com. I would like to ask a question about the eighth point of the city government’s “10 Good Deeds” program for this year. Shanghai has provided nursing services to 4,835 seriously disabled, unemployed people. How many seriously disabled, unemployed people are there in Shanghai? What does the nursing service include? And how have you provided information services to 30,000 hearing impaired people in the other “Good Deeds?” Thank you.

Jiao Yang: The city now has more than 30,000 seriously disabled, unemployed people.

Giving nursing to the disabled is a project to show the Party and the government’s care about the disabled. It is part of the plans to create a harmonious society and also in social progress and development. As mentioned just now, the nursing service has covered 4,835 seriously disabled, unemployed people, more than the 3,500 target we established. What we have made is 138.14 percent more than what we planned. The 4,835 include 2,152 mentally challenged people, accounting for 44.51 percent of the total; 1,938 mental disease patients, 40.08 percent; 567 physically disabled people, 11.73 percent; 112 visually impaired people, 2.32 percent; 40 hearing impaired people, 0.83 percent; and 26 people suffering from multiple disabilities, 0.54 percent.

Shanghai government has adopted measures, including buying beds, to encourage social entities to open nursing facilities for the disabled. The government bought vacant beds in suburban nursing facilities at a price of 500 yuan per bed per year. The city also paid 5,000 yuan as a long-term purchase for a bed that will be reserved for the seriously disabled, unemployed people.

The disabled people who were covered by the program could choose a nearby smaller nursing facility or a larger facility as they wanted.

Different from taking care of the elderly, nursing the disabled also includes recovering training, labor training and special education training, besides daily care. Therefore, Shanghai has issued some standards on building nursing facilities for the disabled. Those large-sized facilities will be built into multi-functional bases to satisfy the multiple needs of disabled people. Shanghai has organized 153 nursing organizations to build 10 bases, and 1,173 disabled people have enjoyed the service.

Taking care of the disabled is a long-term and tough job. With the development of society, the needs of disabled people will become more diverse. Shanghai will regularize the nursing service and raise the service quality.

The other question is about the service to hearing impaired people. I remember this was an issue reporters were interested at last year’s conference. One of the city government’s “Good Deed’s” this year is to provide information services to 30,000 hearing or speaking impaired people. The task has been accomplished. The city’ authorities surveyed 30,000 hearing or speaking impaired people, and provided information services to those who applied.

The beneficiaries are certified hearing or speaking impaired people who are older than 10 years old and hold a Shanghai household registration. When their applications are approved, they can choose one of the services from China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom. The service operators will store their personal information into the SIM card of their mobile phones. The service includes sending 500 free text messages a month and receiving two weather forecast messages, two pieces of top news and two pieces of practical information every day. The market value of the service is 75 yuan a month.

As well, China Mobile and China Unicom’s services provide the first 30 minutes of local phone calls in a month for free. The users of China Telecom’s Little Smart can enjoy a four yuan discount for local phone calls every month.

The information service is free. If the actual use exceeds what the service covers, the excessive part will be charged at a preferential price. If one has chosen another service of a telecommunication operator or has overdue bills, he/she can apply for this service only when the other service expires or he/she has paid the bill.

5.     China Youth Daily: We are glad to see what Shanghai has done is far more than the 10 Good Deeds. My question is: what principles do you base on when a thing is put in the 10 Good Deeds list. Why are there 10? Thank you.

Jiao Yang: Are you asking how the city government selects a “Good Deed”? Our principles are the requirements for scientific development, a harmonious society and how to satisfy Shanghai citizens’ needs better. To be specific, there are these several major principles. One is to address the issues that people care of most or the most apparent and practical problems that affect people’s benefits. This is aimed to provide timely help to citizens. The second principle is it’s the time to solve the issue and the work will benefit a large number of people. The third is the needed funds will be counted into the budget of related authorities to ensure that once a “Good Deed” is set up in a year, it will be achieved within the year.

Certainly, 10 is only a rough concept. Actually 10 Deeds does not mean there are only 10 things. Each Deed usually includes many aspects. What we pursue is not simply a sensational figure. We expect the program will solve some imperative problems citizens are confronted with.

6.     Metro Express: You said just now that the city will undertake 52 large construction projects in 2007. Could you list several examples of the 52 projects? Thank you.

Jiao Yang: Actually I’ve mentioned some, such as the schedule for the construction of rail transport network. Three Metro lines will be completed in 2007, and construction of several others lines will also kick off in 2007. Why don’t I release all the projects here, because some large projects can be announced pending discussions, reviews and approvals by the Shanghai People’s Congress plenary session. Now we are talking about the bigger picture. Those projects whose construction began this year and will continue next year are also included in next year’s projects.

7.     South China Morning Post: I have a question. How much will the city government invest in the large construction projects next year? Will the investment be larger or smaller than last year’s? Thank you.

Jiao Yang: Your question is the same in nature as the one raised by the previous reporter. All the financial budgets should be released only after being passed by the Shanghai People’s Congress.

We’ve said 2007 will be a very important year for the construction of big projects. The schedule will be quite tight. A number of World Expo construction projects will be launched in 2007. I cannot reveal the specific figures right now, as they are still pending a review and an approval. Thank you.

8.     News Times: I have two questions on raising farmers’ income. You mentioned Shanghai will pay more attention to far suburban areas and economically less developed villages. What supportive policies will the city government roll out? And what’s the long-term plan of Shanghai to increase farmers’ income? Thanks.

Jiao Yang: Generally speaking, the work to increase the income of Shanghai’s farmers is going well. But the reporter is perceptive enough to discern the issue of what supportive policies the city government will give to the far suburban and the economically less developed areas. Help to these areas will be given in two ways.

One is that Shanghai is going to build real-estate, such as standard workshops, in industrial parks. The city or district/county governments will make the investment, and the ownership will belong to local town governments. The proceeds will also be given to local villages. The second is that city, district/county and town governments will budget more money for the economically less developed areas.

The reporter also showed concern about the long-term plan to raise farmers’ income. Every year we have a plan to increase farmers’ income. The central government also requires increased efforts.

Shanghai will take advantage of big bases and large projects to speed up the development of the second and the third industries. It will prop up economic development in the city’s rural area to help raise farmers’ employment and their income.

To elaborate, the first is to introduce different policies to give more support to far suburban areas and less developed areas. The second is to continue the preferential employment policy in the suburban area to encourage labor forces in the suburban area to shift to non-agricultural industries. The third is to develop vocational training. A three-year plan will be carried out. Every year 50,000 labor forces in the suburban area will accept training, and more than 60 percent of the trainees will find a job. The fourth is to improve the social security system in the suburban area. Now the minimum annual income has been raised to 2,560 yuan. Authorities will also form a mechanism to increase the pension in the suburban area, and will continue to improve the medical insurance system to make sure old farmers can afford treatment in case of any big illnesses. The fifth is to reform the collective management of property and safeguard farmers’ rights to allocate the proceeds from the collective asset. Our long-term plan to raise farmers’ incomes will be carried out in these five aspects. Thanks. We have time for two more questions.

9.     Xinhua News Agency: We know major domestic cities have experienced a rise in the prices of food and edible oil. Is Shanghai in such a situation? And has the Shanghai government taken some measures to help citizens cope with the price hike? Thank you.

Jiao Yang: Today it is still a topical press conference. We have also received many calls from reporters. The spokesperson team, along with related authorities, has also given timely responses to these questions. Government agencies are stepping up efforts to supervise the market and organize the supply for a stable market, especially since festivals are coming up soon. The city government has issued a circular, requiring an abundant supply and a steady market during the holidays. If you want to know more about the work, we can provide reporters with some detailed materials. Thank you.

10. City Lead News: All 10 Good Deeds have been done better than planned. The 10th was even 279 percent better than the target. Did we make a conservative plan, so all of them can be made better than projected?

Jiao Yang: It’s an interesting question. The Good Deeds are a promise of the city government to citizens. Once we promise, we will endeavor to realize it. Therefore, it is not strange that all the Deeds are finished or beyond the expectation.

Once something is listed in the “Good Deeds” program, governments at all levels will assist more so. Some projects were assigned to district/county governments. Their top officials often took charge in person. The projects are also closely related to people’s lives, such as the correction of road names and the renovation of traffic signs. Before it is set up, a Deed will be discussed to collect opinions. Once it is set up, we will make every effort to accomplish it.

The reporter seems to think the government has established a low target. It’s not true. Each Deed cannot be accomplished easily. The reporter gave an example. The project of civilization training has been accomplished 279 percent better than planned.

The training of civilization and courtesy is for the World Expo. It is big project, requiring efforts year by year. This year’s target is to train 200,000 people. What we have done exceeds the figure. This means all the people involved in the project took an active part to help the government do a good job. It is their solid work to contribute to this much-better-than expected result. Of course, the figure will be a reference while establishing the next goal.

Well, thank you everybody. I hope the reporters will continue to pay attention to the city government by following its “Good Deeds”.