The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Beijing

China's software industry saw an increase in revenue of more than 20 percent last year, boosted by particularly swift growth in income from services, state media

reported today.

The Chinese software industry generated revenues of 580 billion yuan (81 billion dollars) in 2007, up 20.8 percent from the year before, Xinhua news agency said, citing the Ministry of Information Industry.

Software and technology services saw the steepest growth, rising 24.8 percent to 97.8 billion dollars, according to ministry figures cited by the agency.

China, the world's fourth largest economy, has vowed to raise the contribution to growth from technology-intensive industries such as software.