➲ Pollution saver

Pilot programs promoting the use of controlled-release fertilizer have been expanded to more than 20 provinces in China, compared with five in 2008, said the National Agro-Tech Extension and Service Center (NAESC), a department under the Ministry of Agriculture. The move is aimed at reducing pollution caused by the excessive use of fertilizer to protect the environment and save energy, the NAESC said. NAESC also predicted the use of controlled-release fertilizer could help increase agricultural production by 5 to 10 percent on average.

➲ Economy slows

China's economy was expected to grow at 9.5 percent this year and 9 percent in 2012, slowing down from 10.3 percent in 2010, according to the IMF. Investment growth had decelerated with the unwinding of the country's fiscal stimulus, but it remained the principal contributor to growth, said the IMF in its latest World Economic Outlook.

➲ Financial pledge

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has urged stronger financial support for China's small businesses, in addition to enhanced regulation of private lending activities. Wen said small enterprises should be a priority for bank credit support and enjoy better preferential tax policies. Wen also requires banks to increase their tolerance for the non-performing loan ratios of small enterprises, set targets for the proportion and growth of loans to small companies and reduce the cost of securing credit.

➲ Machinery industry up

China's machinery industry experienced expanded growth in both output and sales volumes in the first eight months this year, according to the China Machinery Industry Federation. During the January-August period, the industry's output grew by 26.42 percent to reach 10.66 trillion yuan ($1.67 trillion), while sales volume increased by 26.16 percent to stand at 10.4 trillion yuan ($1.62 trillion). Between 2001 and 2010, the industry's total output value grew from 1.44 trillion yuan ($225 billion) to 14.38 trillion yuan ($2.25 trillion), registering an average annual growth rate of 25 percent.

But Wang Ruixiang, President of the China Machinery Industry Federation, warned that China still has a long way to go before achieving its goal of being a country with a strong and competitive machinery industry.

➲ Helicopter takes flight

China Aviation Industry Helicopter Corp. Ltd. will manufacture 10 civilian helicopters this year with the help of its new plant in north China's Tianjin Municipality, said Wang Bin, the company's general manager. The plant's dual production lines will help the company to expand its annual production capacity to 300 helicopters by 2015.

➲ More franchised outlets

The number of franchised outlets in China is likely to reach 800,000 over the next five years, creating more than 10 million jobs, according to Pei Liang, Secretary General of China Chain Store & Franchise Association (CCSFA). The country's franchising market is heading toward standardization, Pei said. The franchising industry plays an important role in driving private investments and creating jobs. The country's franchising market will make further contributions to employment and consumption in the future, Pei added. Data from the Ministry of Commerce shows that the country currently has a total of 1,600 registered franchisees.

➲ Economic zones in Xinjiang

The State Council, or China's cabinet, recently unveiled guidelines giving more support to the construction of two economic development zones in the western Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. According to guidelines, the State Council will adopt measures such as fiscal subsidies and tax preferences to facilitate the construction of the Kashgar and Korgas economic development zones located in west and south Xinjiang.

➲ Iron ore pricing

China officially launched its iron ore price index recently, a move believed to better reflect the domestic market and give the country a greater say in global pricing. The China Iron Ore Prices Index, which was released on a weekly basis starting in October, is made up of two sub-indices: the domestically produced iron ore price index and the iron ore import price index.

➲ Clean energy lab

The Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy was inaugurated in early October at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics in Liaoning Province. As China's first national energy laboratory, the laboratory is expected to attract the country's top scientists to lead research into clean fossil energy use, clean energy technology and renewable energy.

469 Million Tons

China's crude steel output in the first eight months of 2011

$78,ØØØ

Worth of computers, TV sets and other teaching equipment China provided to the China-Egypt Friendship School in Cairo

 314 Billion [$]

China's investment to promote the low-carbon economy over the next five years

$4 Trillion

BRICS' joint reserves of foreign exchange

6.5 Billion M3

China's shale gas production by 2015