China Minsheng Banking Corp., the nation's first privately owned lender, raised HK$30.1 billion (US$3.89 billion) in Hong Kong's biggest public share sale since April 2007, three people familiar with the matter said.

Deutsche Bank is set to become the largest shareholder in China's Huaxia Bank after agreeing to increase its stake in the mid-sized lender to 17.12 percent, the Chinese bank said Thursday.

President Ma Ying-jeou has ruled out the possibility of Taiwan entering into political discussions with China soon, despite growing ties between the two sides.

Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) will hold four trade fairs in China in 2010 to promote Taiwanese name brand products, Huang Wen-rong, deputy secretary of TAITRA, said Thursday.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told President Barack Obama his nation does not seek a trade surplus with the United States and wants to balance flows, striking a conciliatory note but avoiding public comment on currency rifts.

U.S. President Barack Obama took a walk alone on the Great Wall on Wednesday, wrapping up a visit to China with a visit to the ancient fortifications that symbolize the country's history and separateness.

The website of China's defense ministry has been hacked more than two million times since it was launched three months ago, state media said Wednesday.

Taiwan's education authorities say they are looking to recognize degrees conferred by 41 major Chinese universities, although the plan has yet to be finalized, an official said yesterday.

China's last surviving veteran from the D-Day landings of Allied troops in northern France has died at the age of 91, state media reported Wednesday.

In yet another sign of increasing exchanges across the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's tourism chief departed for China yesterday at the head of a large delegation to attend an international travel fair.