The media gave no actual production figures or the percent of increase. Gold is officially a state monopoly and production a state secret, although a 1994 slip of the tongue by mineral resources minister Song Ruixiang put 1993 output at 90 tonnes.

The January to September output completed 85.8 percent of the target for the year, the official Xinhua news agency and the China Gold newspaper said. The government bought 40 percent more gold in the first three quarters than in the year-earlier period, they said.

Cui Dewen, deputy director of the gold administration of the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry, attributed the remarkable jump in output to major efforts by big producers in eastern Shandong, central Henan, northern Hebei and northwestern Shaanxi provinces, Xinhua said.

China Gold said production in Tibet and the northern city of Tianjin each soared 644.2 percent during the period, again giving no actual production figures.

China decided this year to invest up to 1.4 billion yuan in infrastructure and better technology to boost gold production, Xinhua said.

China's gold sales were 8.05 billion yuan in 1994, it said but gave no more details.