China Urges World Bank to Clarify Ban on Chinese Firms

China's government urged Friday the World Bank to pass over details of an investigation into Chinese construction firms accused of tender rigging.

　　The World Bank on Thursday said it found evidence of collusion among four Chinese and three local construction firms in the bidding for a Philippine road project.

　　The bank subsequently cancelled the tender for 33 million U.S. dollars' worth of contracts, and banned the firms from future tenders.

　　The Chinese companies -- China Road and Bridge Corporation, China State Construction Engineering Corporation, China Wuyi Co., Ltd. and China Geo-Engineering Corporation -- are all state-owned.

　　"We hope the World Bank will reconsider the decision if there is not enough evidence," said Ministry of Commerce spokesman Yao Jian. "If the evidence is robust enough, the government will look into it in accordance with Chinese law."

　　"The companies said there were flaws in the World Bank's investigation in terms of evidence and investigation procedures. The bank did not respond to their inquiries," Yao said. "They hope the World Bank will give a clear explanation."(Xinhua)