China considers supporting steel industry

China considers supporting auto, steel industry.
The State Council is expected to meet this week to discuss a support plan for the steel and auto industries. This is according to a spokesman from the country's top economic planning body. National Development and Reform Commission officials said a government plan for these industries would follow the discussions. China is trying to support industries, like the auto and steel industries, given the global economic crisis. Sales of domestically produced cars rose 6.7 percent year-on-year in 2008. This rise is much lower than the nearly 22 percent growth rate in 2007, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.