IN BRIEF (Page 23)

Fair booths for Japanese firms

The organizer of the China Import and Export Fair is offering 22 booths to companies from three Japanese counties that were the most severely affected by the earthquake and tsunami in March. The booths will allow the companies to display their products at the fair in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, between Oct 15 and Nov 4.

The session will also feature a forum marking the 10th anniversary of China's joining the World Trade Organization, fair spokesman Liu Jianjun said on Tuesday.

Output to rise 13.5% in 2011

China's industrial output is expected to grow by 13.5 percent in 2011, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said on Tuesday.

The ministry said that China's economy faces increased uncertainties due to a weak global economic recovery.

Industrial output grew 13.5 percent year-on-year in August, slowing from July's 14 percent rise, data showed. The ministry said rising prices of raw materials, energy and labor costs, along with "exchange rate fluctuations", have put pressure on Chinese factories, although it said the economy remains resilient.

Fiscal revenue expands 34.3%

China's fiscal revenue in August rose 34.3 percent year-on-year to 754.6 billion yuan ($118 billion), the Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday. That compares with a 27 percent rise in July and an increase of 28 percent in June.

Fiscal revenue might grow more slowly in the coming months due to moderating economic growth and a higher threshold on personal income taxes that took effect this month, the ministry said. Fiscal expenditure in August rose 25.9 percent year-on-year to 807.7 billion yuan.

China Daily - Reuters

(China Daily 09/14/2011 page23)