China International Contractors Association (CHINCA) said it will appeal again to the World Bank concerning the four Chinese construction firms the bank said were involved in tender rigging.

An unnamed CHINCA spokesperson said on Tuesday it will ask the World Bank to give explanations to companies' inquiries and provide evidence.

The World Bank last Thursday said it found evidence of collusion among four Chinese and three local construction firms in the bidding for a Philippine road project.

The bank subsequently cancelled the tender for 33 million U.S. dollars' worth of contracts, and banned the firms from future tenders.

The Chinese companies -- China Road and Bridge Corporation, China State Construction Engineering Corporation, China Wuyi Co., Ltd. and China Geo-Engineering Corporation -- are all state-owned.

China's government urged Friday the World Bank to pass over details of the investigation.

China's companies has been cooperating smoothly with the World Bank on the basis of full respect to law and business ethics, said the spokesperson.

"We understand their position, but we cannot accept the decision of punishment without the support of ample evidence," said the spokesperson.

As the punishment will damage the reputation and future business of Chinese companies, CHINCA said it will continue to appeal to the World Bank and preserve the right to take necessary measures.

(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2009)