Anti-monopoly office set up

The Ministry of Commerce has set up a dedicated anti-monopoly office, designed to strengthen investigations into monopoly practices and enforce legislation, Xinhua reported. The head of the new office said it would work to establish a unified and open national market. Among responsibilities assigned to the office, seen as being a temporary body, will be to aid drafting of China's upcoming anti-monopoly law, and providing support for related investigations and international communications on prevention of monopolies. Xinhua quoted one expert as saying that while China's economy was opening and becoming more market-oriented, the lack of anti-trust legislation was a growing concern.