Beijing  - China might convert more naval vessels to patrol disputed areas of the South China Sea to counter illegal fishing and "other countries' unfounded territorial claims," state media said Thursday.

China faces new "challenges and complications" in the South China Sea, the official China Daily quoted a senior fisheries official as saying, pointing to recent claims by the Philippines and Malaysia to disputed islands and a standoff with a US naval surveillance ship.

Taipei - Two NBA teams will visit Taiwan and China in October to play warm-up games before the start of the NBA season, a newspaper said Thursday.

The Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers will play a preseason game on October 8 at the Taipei Arena. Taiwan's basketball association next month will announce details of the game, the Apple Daily quoted an unnamed sports official as saying.

The two teams will send a total of 30 players, including Denver forward Carmelo Anthony, Indiana forward Danny Granger and NBA legend Larry Bird, now the Pacers' president of basketball operations.

San Jose - A modern science and business centre is set to be built in Costa Rica with financial assistance from China, Costa Rican authorities said Wednesday.

The 65-million-dollar complex will seek to attract investment from state-of-the-art companies, the daily La Nacion reported.

Wang Xiaoyuan, the Chinese ambassador to Costa Rica, confirmed the project.

"The idea is to have a development area with research and production to attract investment," he explained.

Beijing  - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday met with his North Korean counterpart Kim Yong Il, as China was expressing concern over announced North Korean missile tests for April.

China said on Tuesday it was concerned over the "complicated situation" on the Korean peninsula.

Chinese leaders were expected to press his country to resume dialogue on ending its nuclear weapons programme.

Beijing - Chinese authorities on Wednesday rejected the takeover of China Huiyuan Juice Group Ltd, a leading producer of fruit juices, by the Coca Cola Company, the world's largest maker of beverages.

A takeover could have negative effects on competition, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement, the official Xinhua news agency said. Coca Cola's bid failed to meet China's anti-monopoly law, the ministry added.

Taipei  - The Red Cross societies of Taiwan and China are to increase cooperation with the signing of an agreement that follows improved relations across the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) said Wednesday.

Chen Shih-kuei, secretary general of the Taiwan Red Cross, was quoted as saying that a pact was to be signed soon in Taipei with China's Red Cross. Their first agreement was signed 19 years ago.

The new agreement is to include cooperation in the areas of medical assistance and sea rescues, Chen said.