Gold-mining restrictions
(China Daily)Updated: 2006-12-04 10:44
China-Chile free trade
China and Chile will start negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) covering service trade and investment in January, the countries said last week.
"The talks are expected to be wrapped up by the end of 2008, or earlier than that, maybe the middle of 2008," says Fernando Reyes Matta, Chile's Ambassador to China.
Though the talks have been on the table since late September, they probably will not "enter into a substantive stage until January 2007," says Zhang Bing, an official of the department of international trade and economic affairs with the Ministry of Commerce.
Joint economic zone
China has opened its first overseas joint economic zone in Pakistan in a bid to accelerate Chinese enterprises' overseas investment.
The joint economic zone, covering 1.03 square kilometres at Manga Mandi, 40 kilometres south of Lahore, was established by Haier, China's leading home appliance maker, and Pakistani firm Ruba.
Haier has a 55 per cent stake in the joint venture, while Ruba holds the remaining share in what will be Pakistan's largest home appliance production base and the first Sino-Pakistani joint venture of its kind.
"China attaches great importance to economic relations with Pakistan. Investment in Pakistan benefits both nations," Chinese President Hu Jintao said after inaugurating the Haier-Ruba Economic Zone.
 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |  |
(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)