China published Tuesday, the first set of results from its first national economic census. The census covers basic information on the country's secondary and tertiary industries. And according to the statistics, the number of the state-owned enterprises has dropped dramatically while private enterprises are showing an obvious increase.

The bulletin is published by the Leading Group of First National Economic Census of the State Council and the National Bureau of Statistics. It contains information on the legal entities, industrial entities and private-owned businesses involved in the secondary and tertiary industries.

According to the statistics, the total number of state-owned enterprises reached 192 thousand, down 48 percent compared to data released in 2001. Collectively owned enterprises reached 456 thousand, that's 46 percent less than 2001. And private enterprises reached 1.98 million, an increase of 49 percent.

Gao Hhuiqing, Senior Researcher, State Information Centre, said, " The data suggests that state-owned enterprises are gradually moving out of intensively competitive industries, and the private operations are rising. We are seeing some achievements from the reforms."; "But regional private enterprises are still not strong enough. But, they will maintain their development."

The bulletin also shows the number of shareholding companies rose by 35 percent, and the overseas companies increased by 9.6 percent.

The first-ever national economic census formally began on December the 31st, 2004, and is designed to draw an economic panorama of the country's fast-expanding secondary and tertiary industries and complete a database covering all economic sectors. The census is also expected to help the government in policy making.

Bulletin of national economic census

State-owned enterprises: 192,000, down 48%

Collective enterprises: 456,000, down 46%

Private enterprises: 1,980,000, up 49%

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Results of national economic census issued