Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Dec. 15

HONG KONG -- The Hong Kong stock market has decided to take a big step forward to broaden its listing regime, in a bid to embrace new economy.

The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) proposed to reform the Main Board Listing Rules on Friday to attract blockbuster listings. (HK-Stock-Listing)

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KABUL -- At least 12 militants were killed and six others wounded as Afghan forces launched series of air and ground operations in restive provinces of the country, the Afghan Defense Ministry said on Friday.

"The defense and security forces launched a series of air-and-ground operations over the last 24 hours in several provinces including Taliban former stronghold Kandahar, Farah, Jawzjan, Paktika and Nangarhar provinces, leaving up to 12 militants dead and six others wounded," the ministry said in a statement. (Afghanistan- Military)

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JAKARTA -- As influx of Chinese tourists to Indonesia continued to grow in recent years, Indonesia is keen to expand cooperation in tourism with China to facilitate Chinese tourists and create attractive tour packages for them, an Indonesia minister said on Friday.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya told Xinhua in an exclusive interview that Indonesia had received 1.8 million Chinese tourists as of October and the figure was expected to reach more than 2 million ones in 2017. (Indonesia-China-Tourism)

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KABUL -- Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has ordered the Population Registration Department to get ready for issuing electronic Identity Card within coming days, local news agency Pajhwok reported Friday.

The news agency quoted Humayun Muhtat, the census department head, as saying that the process of issuing computerized national ID cards would begin within days not weeks, possibly next week. (Afghanistan-ID Card) Enditem