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Special English You're listening to Special English.
Here is the news. More than 20 million consumers have applied for China's electronic products trade in subsidies since the government launched the Pro -Consumption program last month.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, some 20 .09 million consumers have applied for the products such as mobile phones.
China started to offer subsidies for electronic products trading from January the 20th, as the country expanded the scope of the consumer goods trade -in program to further boost consumption, which provides consumers with up to 500 yuan, some 70 US dollars apiece, on the purchase of digital products.
Card payment giant China Union Pay said it has recorded 6 .27 million subsidized transactions with sales value totalling 20 .58 billion yuan in the reporting period.
As per market data driven by the government incentives, mobile phone sales in China jumped by 74 % in volume and 65 % in value on a weekly basis in the week prior to the Spring Festival, which fell on January 29th this year.
China launched an action plan to promote a large -scale equipment renewal and trade -in of consumer goods in March 2024 as part of efforts to boost domestic demand and support economic growth.
Official data showed that the trade -in scheme boosted car sales by 920 billion yuan last year and that of home appliances by 240 billion yuan.
From dedicated pet lounges to in -cabin travel options, the aviation industry in China is redefining what it means to be pet -friendly, driven by surging demand for animal companions in the country.
This year's Spring Festival travel rush, which began on January 14, saw China Southern Airlines launch its upgraded pets in cabin service on select routes, including on round -trip flights between Guangzhou and Shanghai.
For an additional fee, passengers can reserve exclusive pet seats.
Each flight It accommodates up to two small cats or dogs in the cabin.
During the first week of the holiday season, the airline transported more than 400 pets departing from Guangzhou, with around 35 % of in -cabin pets opting for dedicated pet seats.
Hainan Airlines, a pioneer in pet -in -cabin services since 2018, resumed its pet -in -cabin in 2022 after a pandemic -induced pause.
By November 2024, the carrier had transported more than 10 ,000 pets in cabin across trips involving 27 major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.
Strict protocols ensure hygiene and safety as pets must wear clothing, muzzles and nappies, and are required to remain in carriers during flights.
While in cabin services grab headlines, airlines are also competing to improve traditional live pet cargo experiences.
In 2018, Sichuan Airlines debuted PetAirfare, a premium service featuring climate -controlled holding areas, GPS tracking and door -to -door transportation.
Meanwhile, Shenzhen, Bao An International Airport, opened China's first dedicated Pet Lounge in 2024, a spacious facility equipped with air -quality monitors, species -specific zones and play areas.
These initiatives are responses to what is a booming market.
According According to an industry white paper, the value of China's urban pet sector reached 300 .2 billion yuan in 2024, up 7 .5 % year -on -year, and featuring a nationwide pet population of over a hundred and twenty million.
Owners increasingly prioritise professional services.
Cleanliness and digital convenience.
Trends, VAT airlines and airports are eager to tap.
This is Special English.
Beijing has issued a group of measures to support the high -quality development of the science and technology service industry.
The supportive measures proposed will upgrade scitec service enterprises, attract global Cy -Tech service organizations, and promote their innovation abilities.
According to the measures, the capital city will support global Cy -Tech service organizations in establishing research and development and innovation centers, and opening innovation platforms in Beijing.
Meanwhile, the measures encouraged the leading enterprises in the SciTech service industry to actively expand their overseas markets.
The report noted that the sectors, including the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and the administrative commission of Zhang Guansun Science Park formulated the measures.
Jan Uley, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, said that in 2024, Beijing attracted more than and 900 SciTech service enterprises above the designated size, adding that their annual income was estimated at almost $1 trillion, around $139 billion last year.
You're listening to Special English Chinese researchers have unveiled a novel application of the Earth Science Satellite SDGSat -1 for observing offshore oil and gas platforms.
systems. The study, led by researchers from the Aerospace Information Research Institute, under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was recently published in the International Journal of Digital Earth as global demand for oil rises and the industry moves toward decarbonisation, Tailored monitoring of oil and gas platforms has become increasingly necessary.
However, tracking these platforms in vast and dynamic oceanic regions has long posed challenges.
The researchers used the satellite's glimmer imager and thermal infrared spectrometer China, to track gas -flaring activities in the South China Sea.
This innovative approach enabled them to map platform operations with greater precision.
The findings helped researchers identify 113 oil and gas platforms amidst the complex marine environment of islands, vessels and other offshore facilities in the region.
According to the study, these findings highlight the competence of the satellite in tracking the operational status of oil and gas platforms.
Launched on November 5th, 2021, SDGSAT -1 is the world's first earth science satellite dedicated to supporting the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the satellite provides crucial space -based data to assess human -environment interactions and promote sustainable development.
This is Special English Being the first to herald the arrival of Spring, yin -chun -hua, or Winter Jasmine, is a native plant of China, with a recorded history spanning over 1 ,000 years, adorning gardens and landscapes grapes across the nation, this lively plant casts its spell with dazzling bright yellow blooms from February to April.
As it's often the first to bloom in the spring, it has earned the name Ying Chun Hua, which means, the flower that welcomes spring.
Does winter jasmine have other hidden meanings in Chinese culture?
Well, here is an ancient story for you.
In ancient times, floods often ravaged the land, swallowing mountains and hills in its path.
To save humanity, a brave man named Yu took up the task of controlling the floods.
One day, when he was passing through Tushan Mountain to inspect the waterways, he met a girl named Jiao.
more. Their affection blossomed as they spent more time together, and eventually they became a couple.
But you had to leave home to continue his flood control work, shortly after their wedding, to console his newly wedded wife.
You removed his waistband, made of rattan, happen,' and presented it to her, promising that the day the Ratan blooms, and peace and prosperity reign, they shall be reunited.
Over the years, Ew dedicated himself tirelessly to controlling floods.
floods. On several occasions he passed by his home, but couldn't spare a moment to go inside, not until the floods subsided at last, and peace returned to the land.
You hurried back to Tushan Mountain to find his beloved wife.
Seeing her from a distance, he noticed Zhao standing at the peak, still holding the rattan waistband in her hands.
Upon closer inspection he discovered that his beloved wife had turned into a stone statue.
In the years following Yu's departure, Zhao stood upon the mountain peak each day to await her husband's return.
She went day after day, despite harsh weather conditions.
Over time, the girl met her morphosed into a stone statue.
With tears streaming down his cheeks, Yuu called out to his beloved.
Though Zhao could and no longer respond, his warm tears fell upon the rattan waistband, which started to sprout new leaves, and yellow blossom burst forth from rejuvenated branches.
In memory of his beloved, you named the blossom Yin Chun Hua.
He wanted to commemorate his wife life with the flower, as it symbolizes hope and a world free from the ravage of disasters.
Chinese people often say the plan for the entire year commences with the onset of spring.
As a messenger, welcoming spring, yin -chun -hua has captured the hearts of many Chinese people throughout history.
The famous Tongue Dynasty poet by Zhu Yiyi once wrote, ''With golden petals and green leaves it bears the chill of spring.
How many flowers in yellow hue can match its grace?
Indeed, few flowers are as bold as ying cheng hua to dare to bloom amidst the spring chill.
Today, ying cheng hua is still commonly seen along cities' streets, in parks, and in rural areas in China.
Just as the saying goes, one flower heralds the bloom of a hundred others, ying cheng is resilient and resplendent with optimism.
It embodies hope and vitality, awakening the sleeping earth with its vibrant colors.
That is the end of this edition of Special English to recap I'm going to read two of the news items again at normal speed please listen carefully More than 20 million consumers have applied for China's electronic products trade -in subsidies since the government launched the pro -consumption program last month.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, some 20 .09 million consumers have applied for the subsidies to buy 25 .41 million units of electronic products, such as mobile phones.
China started to offer subsidies for electronic products trade -in from January the 20th, as As the country expanded the scope of the consumer goods trade -in program to further boost consumption, which provides consumers with up to 500 yuan, some US $70 a piece, on the purchase of digital products.
Card payment giant China UnionPay said it has recorded 6 .27 million subsidised transactions, with sales value totalling 20 .58 billion yuan in the reporting period.
As per market data, driven by the government incentives, mobile phone sales in China jumped by 74 percent in volume and 65 percent in value on a weekly basis in the week prior to the Spring Festival, which fell on January 29 this year.
China launched an action plan to promote large -scale equipment renewal and the trading of consumer goods in March 2024 as part of efforts to boost domestic demand and support economic growth.
Official data shows that the trade -in scheme boosted car sales by USD $920BN last year and that of home appliances by USD $240BN.
You are listening to Special English From dedicated pet lounges to in -cabin travel options, the aviation industry in China is redefining what it means to be pet -friendly.
– driven by surging demand for animal companions in the country.
This year's Spring Festival travel rush, which began on January 14th, saw China Southern Airlines launch its upgraded petting cabin service on selected routes, including round -trip flights between Guangzhou and Shanghai.
For an additional fee, passengers can reserve exclusive pet seats.
Each flight accommodates up to two small cats or dogs in the cabin.
In the first week of the holiday season, the airline transported over 400 pets departing from Guangzhou, with around 35 % of in -cabin pets opting for dedicated pet seats.
Hinan Airlines, a pioneer in petting cabin services since 2018, resumed its pet in -cabin programme in 2022 after a pandemic -induced pause.
By November 2024, the carrier had transported more than 10 ,000 pets in cabin across trips involving 27 major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.
Strict protocols ensure hygiene and safety as pets must wear clothing, muzzles, and nappies and are required to remain in carriers during flights.
While in cabin services grab headlines, airlines are also competing to improve traditional live pet cargo experiences.
In 2018, Sichuan Airlines debuted PET airfare, a premium service featuring climate -controlled holding areas, GPS tracking and door -to -door transportation.
Meanwhile, Shenzhen, Baoan International Airport opened China's first dedicated pet lounge in 2024, a spacious facility equipped with air quality monitors, species -specific zones and play areas.
These initiatives are responses to what is a booming market.
According to an industry -wide paper, the value of China's urban pet sector reached 300 .2 billion yuan in 2024, up 7 .5 % year -on -year, and featuring a nationwide pet population of over 120 million.
Owners increasingly prioritised professional services, cleanliness and digital convenience trends that airlines and airports are eager to tap.
That is the end of today's programme.
I hope you'll join us every day to learn English at a slower pace.
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