At the end of last year, China became the world’s second largest diamond consuming market. More Chinese people not only buy diamonds as a luxury, but also hold them as an investment.

The death toll in a coal mine gas explosion in central China's Hunan Province has risen to 29 as the last trapped worker was found dead Sunday morning.

China's coal imports dropped 11.8 percent in the first half of the year to 70.49 million tonnes while exports also fell 13.7 percent to 8.75 million tonnes. During the period, the nation recorded a net import of 61.74 million tonnes of coal. The figure fell 11.5 percent year-on-year amid surging international coal prices, according to figures released Friday by the China National Coal Association.