i see more of a chance for yunnan and especially kunming to become a trade and transport hub competing with the coastal harbors for trade with southeast asian countries. so a better infrastructure wil be required.
for the farmers: we don't know which farmers can produce what at what price, but calmatt is right to say that competition is only good if you actually are competitive.

Many teachers, both Chinese and foreign, who are aware of this report will make it a subject of comment today. Of course, the greatest contributing factor for these results is financial which results in an energy spiral strengthened by the attraction of foreign experts and, thus, the best students. Therefore, in a way, it goes without saying that the Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing universities will lead the pack.

Having spent my extended China teaching time equally in Chengdu and Kunming, I am aware of some contributing factors that Liu Shaohuai ignores. Obviously, as a diligent political member of the Party, it is unlikely that his education has concentrated on much more than propaganda and, thus, some very good teachers at Yunnan University (known to me personally) who are not active Party members are given little attention.

I remember meeting a Chinese senior English-language teacher who had been introduced, proudly, with a Ph.D. Upon enquiry, I learnt that her dissertation was about Ethnic Tourism. Is there a link between ethnic groups and language? Yes, but will this knowledge improve the teaching of language in Yunnan? Very little, in my opinion. There is also the memory of my first introduction to a Kunming university - My guide proudly telling me that 90% of the university's teachers had a bachelor degree. Seeking more information, I learnt that of the remaining 9% comprised those with masters and doctorates, but 1% (approximately) only had a college diploma. I understand that this is no longer the case.

Yet, by comparison, I know of an elderly foreign tenured-professor from a top U.S. university, with two doctorates, who visits Kunming for six months every year - he teaches privately during his visit and has never been approached to assist with the university assessments that Mr. Liu seems to advocate.

Finally, I should be interested to know why there is a 60 years-old age cut-off for useful foreign experts ... perhaps related but a whole new subject.

Hi,

I would like to do an internship with Kunming Hospital - how can I contact them? the following website does not work:

www.intrh.com/

any help is greatly appreciated!

Hedgepig,

Not at all. My point is merely that with increased competition Yunnan may see a relative drop in demand for some of its agricultural products as imports from Southeast Asian countries rise. This is likely to lead to decreased revenue for Yunnan farmers, who still comprise a significant bulk of the provincial population.

My larger point is that free trade agreements as such create winners and losers and aren't uniformly positive developments.

According to some Chinese communities online, the people in charge of constructing the bridge stole a large amount of the budget and chose to construct the bridge from cheaper materials than was originally planned. One person involved in the incident claimed that the bridge collapsed since the wind in Kunming is stronger than anticipated whereupon one made a comment saying "Maybe the weather was too cold for the bridge so it froze and broke?"

It's not the first time something like this happens in Kunming anyway. Once every second year it seems.

"Yunnan agriculture may face increased competition for certain goods from farmers in countries such as Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia."

if it's a caveat, you're assuming that competition in the marketplace is a de facto bad thing?

One caveat to the optimism- Yunnan agriculture may face increased competition for certain goods from farmers in countries such as Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

For further analysis check out this: www.chinaintelligenceonline.com/[...]

/shameless plug :)

Could some one tell me when this new airport is slated for operation?

You're right, it does in fact make you sound like a party pooper.

To Chapter One: I'm sorry if this sounds like a destroyer of a good party but if the purchase of six bottles of beer is rewarded with another two - a total of eight? Is this your responsible way to ensure a safe evening?

The US will never go for either legal marijuana or legal hemp. What would all those unemployed drug cops do for a living?

free tickets

salut jp j'ai hate de pouvoir jammer avec toé toute une nuite

a bientot

Congratulations to winners Charles Bluett, Stephanie Pfieffer and Libby Lee who are all on tomorrow night's guest list plus one.

The schedule of bands & events for the New Year's Eve 2009 Show Dec. 31 at Uprock is something like this:
9:45pm The Quebeck Redneck Bluegrass Project
10:30 pm The Cock in the Mouth Game
10:45pm Cat Scratch Fever
11:30pm The Chicken Shit (buy a ticket and win if the chicken does your number).
11:45p, The Tribal Moons
12:30am A spectacular "wrestling" Match.
12:45am Smegma Riot, Gouride & Oi! Squad bands join together in this performance.
About 1:30am DJ Xiao Kris takes over the night...right into the sunrise!
Hope you can all attend. This promises to be a New Year's Eve Party you won't soon forget!
Entrance for everyone is 20 Yuan at the door.
Plenty of prizes for game winners!