China to keep cost advantage: Minister

BEIJING - Rising wages in China's Pearl River Delta area have sparked concerns that the nation is losing its cost advantage and will lose orders, but Commerce Minister Chen Deming said the impact would be limited.

"A small proportion of the contracts may be transferred to countries with lower costs, but China has yet to lose its labor cost advantage," Chen said on Friday.

To address rising costs and keep their advantage in the international market, companies should climb the value ladder in design and marketing, he said.