JAKARTA - INDONESIA'S policies to tackle imports and drive domestic demand are not protectionist, but are necessary to curb smuggling, meet safety rules, and spur growth at a time of global economic crisis, the trade minister said.

Southeast Asia's biggest economy, a top producer of tin, palm oil and other commodities, has been hit by the global slowdown. Exports slumped, the rupiah fell to a decade low against the dollar, and growth prospects have dimmed.

BEIJING/FUKUOKA (Japan) - CHINA is aiming for growth of about 8 per cent next year but faces a host of challenges, a top official said on Saturday, as Premier Wen Jiabao agreed to beef up cooperation with North Asian counterparts to fight the global crisis.

Policy makers worldwide scrambled for fresh initiatives to stem the fallout from the biggest financial shock in 80 years, with the White House weighing emergency funding to avert collapse of the US auto industry and Europe agreeing to a 200 billion euro (S$399 billion) stimulus plan on Friday.

TOKYO - JAPANESE auto giant Toyota is likely to suffer a 1.1 billion dollar (S$1.64 billion) loss for the second half of the current fiscal year due to a stronger yen and a global industry slump, news reports said on Saturday.

Toyota Motor Corp. is likely to incur an operating loss of some 100 billion yen for the six months to March next year, the Asahi Shimbun and Kyodo News said.