(PBOC), the country's leading central bank, published on Monday the issuing plan for noble metal commemorative coins in 2003.
According to the plan, 40 species in nine categories are set to be issued next year, including 18 species of gold coins, 20 species of silver coins and two species of platinum coins.
A PBOC spokesman said that the total issue in 2003 will use 275,000 ounces of gold, 2.002 million ounces of silver and 58,000 ounces of platinum.
Attention will be paid to the appraisal of the designs and samples, the research and development of new technologies, so as to improve the overall level of China's design and production of noble metal commemorative coins, the spokesman noted.
(Xinhua News Agency December 10, 2002)