China said it planned to increase its steel output.

China produced 43 million tons of steel last year but expects to increase the output to 60 million tons annually by 1990, the official New China News Agency reported. The agency quoted Lin Hua, vice minister of nation’s metallurgy industry, as announcing the planned increase. This year, steel production is expected to reach 46 million tons, the agency reported. To accelerate its development, the metallurgy industry will seek to cooperate with foreign partners in iron, steel and gold production, Lin said.