BEIJING -- China pledged on Friday it will abide by World Trade Organization rules and apply "same policies" to both domestic and overseas companies in rare earth production, processing and export, Ministry of Commerce spokesman Yao Jian said Friday.

Yao said China noticed that rare earth prices have kept rising over the past few years after the country's adjusted rare earth administration and boosted by factors including changes on the international market and speculation.

The price rises, however, is conducive to regulating the rare earth industry and protecting the environment, he said.