Orient Paper halts production due to government mandate

Chinese Orient Paper recently announced that it will temporarily stop manufacturing operations for the period October 30 through November 12, 2014, in accordance with an executive mandate from the Baoding city government.

In a press statement, Orient paper said, "Among other activities, the mandate suspends production in the industries of paper manufacturing, textile printing and dyeing, cement, mining, construction and chemical manufacturing. The purpose of the directive is to help minimize air pollution during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ("APEC") Economic Leaders Week summit to be held in Beijing from November 5 through November 11, 2014.

"APEC Economic Leaders Week is an important gathering of world leaders to discuss economic development initiatives. Industrial activity throughout Hebei province is occasionally subject to this type of restriction during high profile and sensitive events in Beijing," the company said.

The Chinese government aims to reduce air contaminants by 40 percent before the meeting using the same drastic pollution control measures employed before the 2008 Summer Olympics, according to Chinese media reports.

Some 69 manufacturing plants in the capital will be shut temporarily when Asia-Pacific leaders convene in Beijing, while 72 more will cut output.