Information industry has enjoyed a rapid growth in China, leading the country's economic growth for 1999.

According to the Ministry of Information Industry, from January to October of this year, the business volume of postal and telecommunication services amounted to 26.87 billion yuan, increasing by 32.5 percent on an annual basis.

The telecommunication industry has been thriving after China cut certain illegal levies and charges this year. More and more people are turning to new technologies for communication and business.

In the first half of 1999, new telephone customers reached 11. 38 million. By July 19, the number had reached 100 million. Industry analysts said that the rapid growth in the industry was due to the government's new policy of installing a second phone for customers free of charge as well as recent reductions in connection charges.