SOE gov't contributions may rise

State Owned Enterprises may soon be required to pay a higher ratio of their profits to the central government. The Ministry of Finance announced the possible move on Tuesday, in a statement on its website.

State Owned Enterprises generated a total of 2.6 trillion yuan in profits during the first two months of the year. Currently, they are required to pass on a maximum of 10 percent of these profits to the government. From 1993, centrally controlled enterprises only needed to pay taxes. However, in 2007, the government decided they should additionally collect a small proportion of their profits.

Tuesday's statement also said China will introduce resource taxes to promote energy saving and environmental protection, at a "proper time".