China has announced plans to increase the safety of its workers abroad in response to a series of clashes and killings that have highlighted the risks accompanying the country's international economic expansion.

"With the constant expansion of Chinese businesses and employees moving out into the world, the security situation facing businesses and employees is quite serious," Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Quan told Xinhua News Agency yesterday.

Commerce Minister Bo Xilai told a meeting on Monday that companies operating abroad must "respect local laws and regulations and fulfill necessary social responsibilities".

The government will instruct firms working on overseas projects to be aware of their social responsibilities, respect the public welfare, fit in with the local culture and protect the local environment, he said.

The authorities will encourage these enterprises to share benefits with the host country, Bo said.

China will also enhance international security cooperation and increase security spending to protect its overseas workers against terrorist attacks, conflicts, natural disasters and other threats, Bo told a teleconference jointly held by the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The country had invested $73.3 billion overseas and had 670,000 overseas workers at the end of last year, the ministry said and added that China's direct overseas investment reached $16.1 billion during the period, up 31 percent year on year.

Last month, a group of gunmen attacked a Chinese oil company site in the Ogaden region of Ethiopia, killing nine Chinese workers and kidnapping seven others.

China responded by vowing to step up security evaluations for overseas Chinese, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao.

However, the country will not change its policy of encouraging its firms to cooperate with all countries, including those in Africa, on the basis of equality and mutual benefits, said Liu.

Source: China Daily