At the same time, China announced plans for investments totaling $7 billion to jump-start development in its long-neglected northeastern provinces.

Earlier this month, 21 miners were killed when a mine flooded in Jilin, a northeastern province.

Zhang was the strongest of the three leaders and controlled the wealthy northeastern provinces.

More than 2,000 criminals were picked up on a single day last month in the northeastern province of Shandong, it added.

Both companies, which ranked in the top 10 at the time, were based in the northeastern province of Liaoning.

The loan for the power plant, which is to be built in the northeastern province of Liaoning, would be spread over 10 to 12 years.

Azerbaijan will also deliver its gas to Iran's northeastern provinces.

They totally reclaimed the northeastern province by winning at Baegtapgyo in the next year.

Cases have already been reported outside the northeastern province, which has scientists worried.

The Finance Ministry says flooding this year, which has also hit northeastern and central provinces, could cut economic growth by 0.2 percentage point.