Afghanistan's cabinet has cleared the way for the war-torn state to sign a deal with China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) for the development of oil blocks in the Amu Darya basin, the Afghan president's office said on Monday.
China has set the first tranche of rare earth export quotas for 2012 at 10,546 metric tons, the Ministry of Commerce said.
The crackdown on gutter oil for edible use by the Ministry of Public Security in the past three months has proved a boon to bio-diesel companies in Guangdong province.
The yuan hit a record high against the US dollar on the back of much stronger volatility this month.
China will push ahead the convergence of television, Internet and telecom services in 2012, said Miao Wei, minister of Industry and Information Technology.
A member of an influential think tank predicts a slowdown for China in 2012.
Annual growth of China's industrial production is expected to slow further, to around 11 percent, in 2012, Minister of Industry and Information Technology Miao Wei said Monday.
China should further diversify its foreign-exchange portfolio and make more gold purchases.
China's reliance on natural gas imports will continue, accounting for more than half of the country's total consumption.
Though the decline was small, vehicle sales fell for only the second time this year in November, down 1 percent year on year to 1.63 million units.
The reserve requirement for banks may be further reduced next year to allow more lending.
China will further its efforts to make adjustments in tax reduction policies next year.