China will more aggressively work to crack down on and prevent insider trading, with officials saying such enforcement work is relatively pressing at present, the General Office of China's State Council, or the Cabinet, announced in a circular, citing the country's securities regulator.

With the introduction of stock index futures, insider trading is becoming more concealed and complicated, according to the circular issued Thursday on the government's website, www.gov.cn.

It asked local authorities to "be fully aware of the harmfulness" of insider trading, and take specific measures to combat the illegal activities.

The circular ordered an "immediate probe" into suspected insider trading as well as an imposition of administrative punishment "as soon as possible" to protect investors.

More efforts should be made to strengthen the management of insider information and hasten the formulating of rules on keeping insider information confidential.

Further, the creation of major policies involving listed companies should be performed quickly and confined to a smaller number of people having access to insider information.

Those listed companies which have been among cases filed for investigation due to insider trading will be temporarily banned from fund-raising, as well as participating in mergers and acquisitions, according to the circular.

The circular also urged listed companies to disclose information in a truthful, timely, full, and accurate fashion.

(Xinhua News Agency November 19, 2010)