The government on October 6 issued a circular, ordering its three domestic telecom operators to collectively build and share infrastructure to pave the way for the restructuring of the country's telecom industry.

The circular, issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, requires the operators to open their telecom towers and lines to rivals. If conditions permit, the operators should join forces in constructing new base stations and transmission lines, the circular said.

Analysts say this move would bring some challenges to the dominance of China Mobile Corp., because its smaller rivals would be able to access its wider network. It also would intensify market competition and help avoid redundant construction, which would be beneficial to the overhaul of the industry.

Aircraft Progress

China made another stride in the production of its own large commercial aircraft when the Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd. (COMAC) set up an aircraft service company on October 7.

The new company, called COMAC Shanghai Aircraft Customer Service Co. Ltd., will provide aircraft maintenance and repair services, pilot training, aviation equipment and materials leasing, and consulting for aviation technologies for both large planes and regional aircraft.

Jin Zhuanglong, COMAC's General Manager, told Xinhua News Agency that the service company was among the company's three key entities responsible for aircraft design, manufacturing and service. The COMAC was set up in May to manufacture large passenger aircraft for China.

Oil and Gas Well Discovery

CNOOC Ltd. announced on October 6 that it had discovered a new oil and gas well in Bohai Bay.

CNOOC has successfully completed drilling there. During the drill stem test, the well produced an average rate of 560 barrels of oil per day, the company said.

CNOOC, a subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) listed on the Hong Kong and New York stock exchanges, has made several oil and gas discoveries in the Bohai area this year. CNOOC is the country's largest offshore oil producer.

Corporate International Competitiveness

The list of the "Top 20 Most Globally Competitive Chinese Companies 2008" was issued by Roland Berger Strategy Consultants GmbH, a global strategy consultancy based in Munich, Germany, and Global Entrepreneur magazine in Beijing on October 8.

Lenovo Holding Co. Ltd., Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Chery Automobile Co. Ltd., CNOOC and China Merchants Bank Co. Ltd., were some of the companies on the list.

This is the third year that the list has been published.

According to Charles-Edouard Bouee, President and Managing Partner of Roland Berger Greater China, the jury analyzed operating performance, sustainable competitiveness and international corporate culture, with eight detailed rating factors, including overall operating performance, overseas business development, production and purchasing management, global marketing, international human resources, the development of science and technology innovation, brand building and cross-cultural adaptation.