PRESS DIGEST - China - March 25

BEIJING/SHANGHAI, March 25 (Reuters) - Chinese newspapers available in Beijing and Shanghai carried the following stories on Tuesday. Reuters has not checked the stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

SHANGHAI SECURITIES NEWS

-- More than 10 new insurance companies are waiting for approval from regulators to start business.

-- A Chinese Academy of Social Sciences report said that, despite a decline last year in sulphur dioxide emissions and chemical oxygen demand, a measure of water pollution, the country's environmental crisis is still grave.

-- Beijing has taken measures, including subsidies to farmers and prioritising transport of fertiliser, to assure supplies of important agricultural products.

-- Guangdong Midea Electric Appliances Co 000527.SZ has received approval to acquire a 24 percent stake in Chinese washing machine maker Wuxi Little Swan 000418.SZ for 1.68 billion yuan ($238.1 million), to become the largest shareholder in the company.

-- Wholesale diesel prices have risen more than 7,000 yuan a tonne in eastern, northern and southern China.

CHINA SECURITIES JOURNAL

-- The Ministry of Finance has allocated 27 billion yuan for 2008 to help fund and award energy-saving projects.