China reports highest average temperature in October in 45 years

China's average temperature during October reached 11.7 degrees centigrade, 2.1 degrees higher than normal, China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said on Thursday.

October's temperatures were also the highest level in the country since 1951, according to CMA.

CMA said that last month, 24 of the country's 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities reported their highest average temperature since 1951.

In earlier October, daily high temperatures in Beijing, Tianjin and Qingdao ranged between 29-31 degrees, a 45-year high.

Average temperatures in northwest and north China, and in areas along the rivers of Yellow, Yangtze, Huaihe were 3-5 degrees higher than normal.

In September, China's average temperature stood at 16.7 degrees, which was 0.5 degrees higher than normal.

Meteorological experts attributes the unusual warm weather to a weak cold air front and the lack of rain which they say is linked to global warming.

Source: Xinhua coffee company, told Xinhua that the Expo had provided them with a number of business opportunities.

Huong said her company found a local partner in Guangxi at the second China-ASEAN Expo in 2005.

"We have already set up two chain coffee stores in Nanning in the past year. We hope to find a partner outside Guangxi this year, so we can sell our products to other parts of China," she said.

The four-day third China-ASEAN Expo, which opened on Tuesday, attracted the attendance of more than 2,000 enterprises from China, all the 10 ASEAN member countries, and many other countries and regions around the world.

Source: Xinhua