CHINA said yesterday it had barred foreign express delivery firms from carrying personal letters and most government, Communist Party or military documents in a brewing industry dispute.

　　“International delivery companies will be allowed to carry express documents and document-type items into and out of the country, but not personal letters, nor documents from Party, government or military bodies at the county level or above,” said a joint statement from China’s Ministry of Information Industry, Foreign Trade Ministry and the State Postal Bureau.

　　Foreign express companies would also have to apply for a new operating permit within 60 days, said the statement dated Sept. 5, published on the Web site of the State postal monopoly www.chinapost.gov.cn.

　　The statement is the latest in a months-long dispute over a series of restrictions proposed for foreign giants such as Federal Express, United Parcel Service and DHL, which are building an increasing presence in the country.

　　One proposal would hand China Post, the State monopoly, a competitive edge by barring foreign firms from carrying all documents under 500 grammes in weight, a market estimated at an annual US$1.8 billion.(SD-Agencies)