Hong Kong continues to top a list of the world's freest economies and the Philippines posted a record balance of payments surplus in 2007. Claudia Blume at VOA's Asia News Center in Hong Kong has more on these and other business stories from the region.

A U.S. envoy said Tuesday that China had to move more quickly to implement needed economic reforms or would face major risks to its economy.

Even though China’s rapid economic expansion slowed slightly in September, the growth of its industrial production speeded up, according to data released Friday.

Tightening measures reduced speed of China's quick-growing economy in the third quarter. The peak of the latest boom has passed, economists reported .

A commissar like Wen Jiabao can not overcome the jeopardy in China today.

Spiral of rising prices in China and the CPC privileged group's spontaneous disintegration.

The invested interests spend so much national wealth in preparing the Olympic Games to blandish the international community, launch so much propaganda about the 2008 Olympics to gloss over official corruption and social inequality!

Automakers are ramping up their operations in China to take advantage of record-breaking growth in vehicle sales. China replaced Japan last year as the world's second-biggest auto market, and industry experts predict the growth will continue as the country's booming economy encourages greater consumption of luxury goods.

China's benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which tracks both yuan-denominated A shares and hard-currency B shares, rose 3.03 percent on Thursday, or 114.48 points, to close at 3,890.80 points.

The Chinese government has vowed to control its greenhouse gas emissions but rejected mandatory limits on emissions in a newly released policy on climate change. A Chinese official in charge of planning says economic growth is still the number one priority and industrial nations, which share the most blame for global warming, should be more understanding and supportive of developing countries.

Chinese shares plunged again on Monday, with the major Shanghai Composite Index falling by 8.26 percent after heavy falls last week. Investors were left rubbing their eyes after a cumulative fall of over 15 percent since the bourses struck a high point of 4335.18 points on May 29.

China needs a legal framework to strengthen the supervision over the financial market, the central bank said in a report released on Wednesday.