Society

Despite a federal commission report that criticizes China for its "highly discriminatory" economic practices, many US companies said in a survey that they are committed to doing business in China.

But the same survey, released by the US-China Business Council (USCBC) on Wednesday, also did not swerve far from the tone of the report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. In the survey, the US companies said they are increasingly concerned with barriers in accessing the Chinese market.

The nonprofit organization based in Washington represents about 220 US companies selling goods and services in the Chinese market.

According to the survey, 87 percent of respondents said that their operations in China posted revenue growth in 2009. Nearly 90 percent said that profit margin rates in China equaled or exceeded their companies' global margins.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, is drafting a slew of measures to suppress rising commodity prices, Premier Wen Jiabao said on Wednesday.

The measures include boosting food supplies and other necessities, increasing subsidies for low-income families and taking more targeted policies to maintain market order, according to a statement on the government's official website www.gov.cn.

"We need to understand the importance and urgency of stabilizing market prices and take forceful measures," it said after a State Council meeting chaired by Wen.

"When it is necessary, contemporary measures could be taken to interfere with the prices of some important daily necessities," the statement added.

The State Council singled out grain, edible oil, sugar and cotton as markets that it wanted to stabilize. It also vowed to intensify a crackdown on price speculation and to punish those found hoarding commodities and pushing up prices by illegal means.

The statement made no mention of monetary policy.

A leading Chinese power company has promised that the world's highest hydropower station in Tibet will not reduce water flows downstream on the Yarlung Zangbo River.

Damming of the river began on November 12, marking the formal start of construction of the 7.9 billion-yuan Zangmu Hydropower Station. The move has caused concern in the downstream countries, including India, who fear the project will disrupt water flows.

"The river will not be stopped during construction," said Li Chaoyi, chief engineer of China Huaneng Group, the prime contractor for the project.

"After it becomes operational, the river water will flow downstream through water turbines and sluices. So the water volume downstream will not be cut," he said.

Li said environment protection would be a top priority in the construction and operation.

Zangmu Hydropower Station, with six 85-megawatt power generating units, is a key project under China's ambitious plan for Tibet's development.

The station will ease power shortages in central Tibet and boost regional economic development. The first unit will be put into operation in 2014.

A Shanghai high-rise apartment fire that killed 53 people was completely avoidable, Chinese top labor safety official said, blaming lax supervision and illegal work practices.

Luo Lin, head of the State Administration of Work Safety, is leading the probe into the blaze, which gutted the 28-story building Monday afternoon after sparks from welding allegedly set nylon netting and scaffolding on fire, leaving many trapped in their homes.

"The accident should not have happened and could have been completely avoided," Luo saidin comments published Thursday.