China plans to increase its number of software export bases to up to 15 by 2010, in order to support the fledgling software export and outsourcing industry, said Yi Xiaozhun, vice-minister of commerce.

China currently has six software export bases, in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Dalian, Shenzhen and Xi'an.

"Exports of software and information services will play a leading role in the service sector in China," Yi said.

Iron ore increase

Chinese importers agreed last Tuesday to a 19 per cent rise in the price of iron ore, the second biggest increase in 25 years.

Shanghai Baosteel Group, representing Chinese iron ore importers in talks with major international suppliers, accepted the price increase from BHP Billiton, the world's largest resources company.

BHP Billiton issued a statement confirming it had reached an agreement with Chinese customers on prices for contracted iron ore tonnage for the 2006 contract year. 

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