By the end of 2008, China will have more than 79,000 km of rail line. To meet the 2020 target will require about 5 trillion yuan ($732 billion), the MOR said.

Ducks Too Slim

The mainland's celebrated Peking roast duck chain, Quanjude (Group) Co. Ltd., is set to open its first Taiwan restaurant in the island's southern city of Kaohsiung, but the ducks to be served will all be from Beijing as the island ducks just aren't fat enough.

Jiang Junxian, the group's Chairman, said the Taiwan branch would have to use specially fed ducks from the mainland to keep the dish's original flavor, as Taiwan's ducks were too slim.

He expected the restaurant would be well received in Taiwan thanks to its century-old fame, but cautioned that Taiwan customers might have to wait some time for the delicacy, as the mainland and Taiwan must first sign agreements on personnel entry, work permits and raw material imports.

Talents Return

An increasing number of overseas-educated Chinese are returning home in search of jobs after graduation. According to the Ministry of Education, more than 50,000 Chinese students will come back to the country this year, up from 25,000 in 2004.

The World Journal, a Chinese newspaper based in the United States, reported in late November that more overseas-educated Chinese were trying to find jobs back in China, as unemployment rates in other countries increased during the global financial crisis.

Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said at a recent meeting in Beijing that the Party and government will try their best to create a favorable working and living environment for them.