In order to intensify its operations in China Stora Enso has today signed a new loan agreement with International Finance Corporation (IFC) increasing its loan facility to USD 300 million. The loan will be used to finance Stora Ensos current operations and future investments in China. In April 2006 Stora Enso formed a publication paper joint venture with Shandong Huatai Paper. The joint ventures paper machine is planned to have an annual production capacity of up to 200 000 tonnes of super-calendered magazine paper and other publication paper grades based on recovered fibre. Since 1998 Stora Enso has had a paper mill at Suzhou that currently produces annually 240 000 tonnes of coated fine paper to the Chinese market. In 2005 Stora Enso increased its plantations in the Guangxi province in southern China to approximately 60 000 hectares through land concession rights and wholly owned plantations. (Source: Fordaq)