China's industrial companies saw an easing of profit growth in the first quarter of this year, suggesting economic recovery in the world's second largest economy has uneven momentum.

French President Francois Hollande wrapped up a two-day visit to China Friday, confident that France could achieve more balanced trade with the world's second largest economy.

China on Saturday reported its first case of H7N9 bird flu in the southern province of Hunan, the latest sign the virus that has killed 23 people in the country is continuing to spread.

China has cancelled a top annual finance meeting with Japan and South Korea, officials in Tokyo and Beijing said on Friday, amid simmering diplomatic tensions.

Chinese authorities have sentenced more than 1,400 people to prison terms of at least five years for involvement in underground lending in a crackdown on a financing practice widely used by China's entrepreneurs, a police official said Friday.

China on Friday hit out at the Philippines' attempt to seek an international verdict on a territorial dispute over islands in the South China Sea, repeating that it would never give up its claims.

China on Friday hit out at the Philippines' attempt to seek an international verdict on a territorial dispute over islands in the South China Sea, repeating that it would never give up its claims.

Chinese researchers reporting in The Lancet on Thursday confirmed poultry as a source of H7N9 flu among humans but said they found no evidence of person-to-person transmission.

Several governments in Asia have ordered tougher screening of air travelers from China in an effort to contain a possible spread of a new strain of bird flu that has killed 23 people in the mainland and infected one visitor from Taiwan.

China welcomed French President Francois Hollande Thursday with a deal potentially worth billions for 60 Airbus planes as he became the first Western leader to pay court to Beijing's new supremo.