MNI China Press Digest, Dec 16: SME, Xi Comment, Tariff

     BEIJING (MNI) - The following lists highlights from Chinese press reports

on Monday:

     Government departments and local authorities in China have been urged to

offer innovative incentives to boost financial services offered to small and

private companies, according to a statement on the Government website. At a

State Council meeting held by Vice Premier Liu He, government agencies were

advised to improve the financial guarantee system, build up credit information

on small private firms, and also encourage technology firms to go to public

markets for financing.

     China should promote regional development and strengthen city clusters

along with the capacity of core cities to drive the economy and contain

populations, President Xi Jinping has said. Xi's comments were published in an

article under his byline in Qiushi, a publication of the Central Committee of

the Communist Party of China.

     China has decided against earlier plans to impose tariffs of between 5% and

10% on some US products, Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday. The tariffs,

previously announced by the China Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council

were due to come into force on December 15. China has also decided against

levying tariffs on automobiles and auto parts originating from the US as a

result of the recent consultations between China and the United States, Xinhua

reported. Other tariff measures against the United States would continue to be

implemented in accordance with regulations, the report said.

--MNI Beijing Bureau; tel: +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: flora.guo@marketnews.com

--MNI Sydney Bureau; +61 405322399; email: lachlan.colquhoun.ext@marketnews.com

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