As part of China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), seven laws and regulations took effect on January 1 that lift some restrictions on auto imports and foreign participation in gasoline sales, auctions and insurance, Xinhua news agency said.

The new laws will formally cancel China's auto import quota and allow private and foreign companies to set up petrol stations in China in accordance with China's WTO accession commitments, it said.

A government decree on the import and export of goods also goes into effect Saturday that will bring China's definition of countries or regions of origin of goods in line with WTO standards, the China Daily said.

The new regulation is aimed at curbing the counterfeiting of certificates of origin for export products that have been widely used to circumvent quota tariffs and taxes, especially in the processing and garment trades, the paper said.

Starting from January 1, China will also audit military officers with the rank of lieutenant colonel or higher who are in charge of army finance work, according to a regulation issued by the military, Xinhua said.