6 month passport validity requirement for USA citizen to China Visa - work related

1. I need to travel from USA to PRC for work on April 24 2016. I do not have a valid passport yet - will apply today. Will this newly issued one be acceptable regarding the 6 month validity requirement for visa to PRC?

2. My co-worker is having his passport renewed, we would like to know if his renewed one would be acceptable for the 6 month validity requirement for Visa to China as well?