China will launch a package of long-awaited new policies for
automobile industry and market at the end of this year or the
beginning of next year, a senior government official announced here
Thursday.
The new policies will include a program to accelerate the
industry's development and others concerning vehicle consumption,
fund management and financing, Zhang Guobao, vice-minister of the
State Development Planning Commission, was quoted by Friday's China
Daily as saying at an international automobile forum organized by
the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).
The plan comes as China's auto market has surged during the year
since the nation joined the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Zhang forecast demand for vehicles would increase to six million
units a year by 2005 from the expected 3.2 million units this
year.
China has promised to revise its existing regulations on the auto
industry and to form policies on the issue according to WTO
requirements.
(Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2002)
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