China wants stimulus to favour local firms
China has ordered local governments to favour domestic companies when carrying out projects that are part of a massive anti-crisis stimulus package, state media reported Tuesday.
The call for preferential treatment for Chinese firms follows claims by local businesses that a large part of Beijing's stimulus money has gone into foreign pockets, the China Daily newspaper said.
"For government procurement, apart from cases where products and services are not available domestically or cannot be acquired on reasonable commercial terms, domestic products should be purchased," the National Development and Reform Commission said.
The commission, the nation's top economic planner, issued the call in a notice published with eight other ministries in early June.
While the notice was issued at the start of the month, the bulk of the Chinese media only reported it this week. There was no explanation for the delay.
China unveiled a four-trillion-yuan (580-billion-dollar) package in late 2008 aimed at revitalising the economy, which has been hit by the global meltdown.
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