New projects halted in hot sectors

The State Council, China's cabinet, ordered all government agencies to stop issuing approvals for new steel, cement and aluminum projects this year in an effort to avoid ill-conceived projects and a future capacity glut. The State Council also said it would launch a nationwide investigation into almost all ongoing investment projects, including shopping malls, golf courses and commercial office developments. Chinese media reported that the executive body was also calling for an end to using farmland for infrastructure projects.