Stones set to confirm Beijing and Shanghai concerts

The Rolling Stones plan to perform in Beijing and Shanghai in November, according to their local promoter, delighting rock fans who were disappointed by the band's cancellation during the Sars outbreak.

Officials of Beijing Time New Century Entertainment said the Rolling Stones would perform in a Beijing concert in November, though they had not yet settled on dates or obtained full permission from government oversight agencies.

The company has contacted the British Council, a cultural adjunct of the British embassy, to ask about co-sponsorship.

A formal deal is expected soon. 'We're working that out now,' said a company official.

The Stones had been scheduled to play Shanghai on April 1 and Beijing on April 4 as part of their Forty Licks world tour, but those concerts became two of the first major events to be cancelled in the mainland because of the Sars scare.

The Stones have never played in China before.