Taxis Ready for Fortune Forum in Shanghai ����About 1,500 cars from the Friendship State Guest Cars, Dazhong and Qiangsheng taxi companies in Shanghai City are getting ready for the upcoming Fortune Global Forum to be held in China's biggest business hub. ����The three companies have also bought 310 new Buick and Benz cars and acquired Nissans, Fords, Cadillacs and Audis at a cost of more than 200 million yuan (24.15 million US dollars). ����"We chose 706 drivers who have at least four years of driving experience and no accident record," said Shen Zhengdong, a senior officer with the Shanghai Friendship Taxi Service. ����Every driver has been trained in various fields such as English, protocol and traveling routes. ����Shen said that these drivers and the cars chosen not only expresses the importance of quality service in the city but also publicizes Shanghai's taxis throughout the would. ����Shanghai now has more than 400 taxi companies, seven of which boast nearly 2,000 taxis each. And almost 8,800 taxis in Shanghai now use liquefied petrol gas. (Xinhua) HomeNews 1999-09-26 Page3