BEIJING — China's top economic planner said Thursday that it would keep domestic gasoline and diesel prices unchanged as the international crude prices are still lower than the "floor rates."

As of Wednesday, the average international crude price was lower than US$40 a barrel, the floor set by the Chinese government, in the past 10 working days, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

China slashed prices of gasoline and diesel to a level corresponding to US$40 a barrel on March 17 amid the global oil price collapse

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Under the current pricing mechanism, China will adjust domestic prices of refined oil products when international crude prices translate into a change of more than 50 yuan (about US$7.08) per tonne for gasoline and diesel for a period of 10 working days, but will not do so if the international prices go below the floor of US$40 or above the ceiling of US$130 a barrel.

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China slashed prices of gasoline and diesel to a level corresponding to US$40 a barrel on March 17 amid the global oil price collapse.