This is the second highest on record, next only to 1999, but surpassing 1998, because interest rates, and therefore interest expenses, were much lower in 2003 than in 1998.

• 这是第二高的纪录,仅次于1999年,并高于1998年,原因是2003年利率低于1998年的水平,因此利息支出亦较少。