BEIJING, July 18 (Reuters) - China's market regulator

summoned the country's food delivery companies Meituan ( MPNGF )

, JD.com ( JD ) and Alibaba's ( BABA ) Ele.me on

Friday over competition in the industry.

The companies need to further regulate promotional behaviour

and "engage in competition rationally" to promote the

sustainable development of the food catering industry, a

statement released by the State Administration for Market

Regulation said.

(Reporting by Beijing Newsroom

Editing by David Goodman

)