The State Development and Reform Commission has called for a cooling down of 'overheated' industrial sectors, including steel, aluminium, cement and vehicle manufacturing. Ma Liqiang, a senior official at the commission, was reported by China Daily as being particularly concerned about investment in iron production, which it said increased 120 per cent year-on-year in the first nine months of 2003.
"Excessive growth in some sectors is putting a strain on transport and power supplies, driving up the prices of raw materials and damaging industries across the nation," Ma commented.