PRESS DIGEST - China - MARCH 20

BEIJING/SHANGHAI, March 20 (Reuters) - Chinese newspapers available in Beijing and Shanghai carried the following stories on Thursday. Reuters has not checked the stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

CHINA SECURITIES JOURNAL

-- Regulators could consider allowing foreign companies or their joint ventures in China to float shares on the domestic stock market, China's central bank proposed in a report on international financial markets.

SHANGHAI SECURITIES NEWS

-- China's State Council has issued a circular on the government's Web site encouraging qualified financial Chinese institutions to provide financial backing for Chinese firms operating globally.

SECURITIES TIMES

-- Datang Telecom Technology (600198.SS) said its controlling shareholder has no plans for a major asset restructuring or a listing of all its assets on the stock market in the next six months, clarifying an earlier media report.

CHINA BUSINESS NEWS

-- Diesel is in short supply in several provinces in south China, including Guangdong, Yunnan and Hainan.

FINANCIAL NEWS

-- China ordered all banks to step up efforts to fight money laundering.

CHINA DAILY (www.chinadaily.com.cn)

-- Beijing is trying its best to reduce potential public health risks caused by pests at the Beijing Olympic Games, a leading health official has said.

PEOPLE'S DAILY

-- Premier Wen Jiabao held a State Council work meeting on Wednesday to map out its future agenda. It was the cabinet's first meeting since the parliament meeting ended earlier this week.

-- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao exchanged views with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown over the phone on Wednesday regarding several issues, including the situation in Tibet. (Compiled by Beijing and Shanghai Newsrooms; Editing by Edmund Klamann and Ken Wills)