The National Bureau of Statistics published the latest survey showing that in 2004 China's conglomerates were growing both in terms of scale and performance.

The number of business giants was 72 more than that in the previous years at 2,764. These include (corporation) groups approved by the central government, trial groups by the State Council, as well as corporations by the departments concerned under the State Council, and those by the local authorities of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. Any other group which holds at least 500 million yuan of both annual operation turnover and assets is also counted in.

By People's Daily Online