CHINA

China exports grew at the fastest pace in 19 months in October, while imports also rose, official data showed on Saturday, as the world's second largest economy continued to recover after being hit hard by the coronavirus crisis earlier this year.

Australia said on Friday it was closely monitoring exports to China amid "deeply troubling" reports that Chinese buyers have been told not to purchase seven categories of Australian goods ranging from coal to wine, further souring diplomatic tensions.

Richemont said a $1.1 billion partnership with Alibaba to invest in online luxury retailer Farfetch and its new Chinese marketplace would further drive sales in its biggest and fastest growing market.

Japan's two biggest car manufacturers, Toyota Motor and Honda Motor on Friday more than doubled their operating profit forecasts, helped by recovering demand in China as it rebounds from the coronavirus pandemic.

India's top military commander said on Friday a tense border standoff with Chinese forces in the western Himalayas could spark a larger conflict, even as senior commanders from both sides met near the frontline for their eighth round of talks.

China will improve its contingency plans for any COVID-19 cluster cases in the winter, including stepped-up procurement of medical supplies and greater contact-tracing efforts, the country's cabinet said on Friday, according to state TV.

The shock suspension of Ant Group's massive share offering and a possible Joe Biden U.S. presidency have become fresh tailwinds for China's stock market, as investors rush to snap up a piece of an economy recovering rapidly from the coronavirus pandemic.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Friday she had discussed coronavirus controls and economic relief measures with mainland Chinese officials during her three-day trip to Beijing and that the central government has welcomed her proposals.

The decision to suspend Ant Group's planned initial public offering in China was based on a comprehensive consideration about safeguarding the interests of financial consumers and investors, a senior central bank official said on Friday.

China has never interfered in other countries' affairs nor does it have any interest in doing so, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Friday, in response to Australia charging the first person under its foreign interference law.

General Motors Co plans to sell full-size sport-utility vehicle (SUV) models in China for the first time, and will import a range of models to beef up its product lineup into the world's biggest car market, its China chief told Reuters.

China's central bank will consider policy changes as the economy recovers, but it will not make hasty moves and any shifts would be based on accurate economic assessments, a vice governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC) said on Friday.

A Chinese court sentenced on Friday the former chairman of Hengfeng Bank, Cai Guohua, to death with two-year reprieve after convicting him of abuse of power, corruption, embezzlement, receiving bribes and illegal loans, the court said.

Brucellosis, a bacterial disease with flu-like symptoms, has infected more than 6,000 people in a single outbreak in northwestern China.

China's foreign trade is expected to have grown quite strongly in October due to a recovery in global markets and the domestic economy, a Reuters poll showed, but there are fears that the coronavirus upsurge overseas could slow trade in coming months.

Ford Motor Co's Chinese ventures reported higher vehicle sales for October from a year earlier, as strong demand for sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) and vans continued to support its recovery in the world's biggest auto market.

China's Ministry of Commerce expects the country's service imports to reach $2.5 trillion over the next five years, the official Shanghai Securities News said, citing a report from the ministry.

AstraZeneca Plc plans to start early and mid-stage clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate in China this year, a senior executive said on Friday, as it prepares a global rollout of the vaccine.

China reported 36 new coronavirus cases in the mainland for Nov. 5 compared to 28 cases a day earlier, the health commission said on Friday.