POSTAL SAVINGS & MONEY OBOEd, AMS,

POSTAL SAVINGS & MONEY ORDER, EMS,

NEWSPAPERS & PERIODICALS, PHILATELY

b38-1.jpg (11866 bytes) Postal Savings and Money Order
In 1998, postal savings enjoyed a continuous and healthy development. By the end of December, 1998, the deposits balance accumulated to 306.5 billion yuan, accounting for 6% of the national civil deposits balance. The newly added postal savings in 1998 was valued at 55.7 billion yuan, occupying 7.82% of the net increment in national residents' savings. Both domestic and international money order services developed steadily' in domestic sector, 221.7 million money order receipts were issued worth 293.9 billion yuan and 220.9 million money order receipts were cashed with a value of 291billion yuan; in international sector, the incoming receipts at a number of 37106 were valued at $26.9557 billion while the outgoing-863 pieces, valued at $326,300. In 1998, China Post signed international Money Order Agreement with Peru and Yugoslavia respectively, which increased the number of countries of this kind to 17.

b38-2.jpg (10365 bytes) EMS
In 1998, EMS featured a strong developing trend. The annual traffic volume reached 76.752 million pieces, among which, domestic items acquired 73.392 million pieces and the international items 3.36 million pieces. EMS expanded its service to near 2000 cities in China, in 70% of which EMS service call "185" is available and established business relationship with over 200 countries and regions worldwide. Newly opened EMS-related services such as payment on addressee, COD, money delivery EMS, etiquette EMS and tax-bill payment EMS all assumed sound development tendency, growing towards standardization.

b39.jpg (15592 bytes) Newspapers & Periodicals Service
In 1998, despite serious competition in the business market, newspapers and periodicals service retained a consistent development in terms of distribution volume and operating revenue by adhering to the guideline of Strengthening Management, Meeting time-deadline delivery promise, Boosting Development and Exploring the Market.The cumulative pieces of newspapers and periodicals distributed across China year-round reached 21.28 billion; capital flow fulfilled 11.98 billion yuan, and the operating revenue figured 4.04 billion yuan. To meet the market competitions, service structure adjustment was implemented with priorities in such aspects as retailing service advancement, retail service time deadline fulfillment and retail outlets expansion. So far, distribution centers of certain scale for newspapers, periodicals and audio-visual products, sale outlets and kiosks for newspapers and periodicals mushroomed across China. The annual capital flow in retail service achieved 2.88 billion yuan, up 21.5% over last year.

b40.jpg (14295 bytes) Philately
In 1998, philately service continued its development trend with achieved operating revenue of 7.79 billion yuan. 31 sets(109 pieces) of commemorative and special stamps were. issued throughout the year including one issued on February 19th in honor of the anniversary of the decease of Mr. Deng Xiaoping, the general designer of China's socialist reform and opening up and modernization drive, one issued on March 5th commemorating the commencement of the Ninth National People's Congress, People's Republic of China as well as one titled Combat the Flood, Relive the Disaster issued in September at a quantity of 30 million pieces, whose sales income was completely donated to the disaster-stricken regions. So fad there stand over 11000 philatelic service outlets across China establishing a three-level counter service system nationwide and a 2-layer philatelic market with large and medium-size cities as the basis.

39-1.jpg (12451 bytes) China boasts more than 10 million stamp collectors and the membership of National Philately Federation reaches 3.6 million. In addition, 47000--odd philatelic organizations at the grass level spread throughout China. Thanks to the productive and fruitful development in philatelic products, demands from various aspects of society were satisfied. Nowadays, stamp collecting has turned to be the third most popular activity in China, closely following physical exercises and traveling. In 1998, Chinese stamps were exported to more than 50 countries and regions.
39-2.jpg (26332 bytes) In 1998, China Post produced three sets of joint-issue special stamps named Puning Temple in Chengde and Wurzburg Palace, The Imperial Palace and Louvre Palace and The Slender West Lake and Leman Lake with its counterpart in Germany, France and Switzerland respectively.

REPRESENTATIVE STAMPS PRINTED IN 1998