China plans stricter export rules to ensure that only big and credible auto makers take part in the nation's push to become a major power in the global vehicle market, state media said.

Beginning from March 1, the government will introduce a licensing system that will weed out auto makers that are too small to compete internationally, the Xinhua news agency reported.

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"There are too many exporters and the exporting business is in chaos, with problems such as cut-throat competition arising," Xinhua said.

A statement posted on the website of the commerce ministry announced the new moves but gave no further details.

Xinhua quoted unsourced statistics showing that some 1,025 Chinese enterprises were involved in vehicle exports in 2005.

Out of these, more than 600 enterprises less than 10 vehicles in the course of the entire year, while another 160 exported just one automobile each.

The announcement of the new measures came as the government released trade data showing Chinese vehicle exports almost doubled last year.

China's auto industry exported a total of 340,000 vehicles in 2006, an increase of 96 percent from 173,000 the year before, Xinhua said, citing the commerce ministry.

"China is aiming to lift the value of its vehicle and auto parts exports to ... 10 percent of the world's total vehicle trading volume in the next 10 years," said Vice Minister of Commerce Wei Jianguo, according to Xinhua.

The goal compares with auto and auto part exports that currently account for just 0.7 percent of global trade in those product categories.

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