China's major fixed-line telecom operator said the most significant change in the new standard would be a shrinking of the charging unit from one minute to six seconds.

Long-distance calls within the Chinese mainland will cost 0.07 yuan (US$0.0085) per six seconds; calls to the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan Province will cost 0.20 yuan (US$0.024) per six seconds; and international long-distance calls will cost 0.8 yuan (US$0.097) per six seconds.

Domestic long-distance calls and international calls to 15 nominated countries made between midnight and 7am will be given a 60 percent discount.

The 15 countries include Japan, the United States, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, France, Britain, Italy, Thailand, Malaysia, Germany, Canada, the Philippines, Indonesia and South Korea.

(China Daily 02/08/2001)