Beijing's per capita GDP reached 4,970 U.S. dollars in 2004, an increase of 1,457 U.S. dollars more than previously reported by preliminary figures, a local official said Wednesday.

"According to the results of the first national economic survey, Beijing's total GDP reached 606 billion yuan (74.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2004," said Cui Shuqiang, director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics, at a press conference.

This included 9.5 billion yuan (1.2 billion U.S. dollars) from the primary industry, 185.4 billion yuan (22.9 billion U.S. dollars) from the second industry, and 411.1 billion yuan (50.8 billion U.S. dollars) from the tertiary industry, Cui said.

The preliminary figures of Beijing's total GDP in 2004 stood at 428.3 billion yuan (52.9 billion U.S. dollars).

The calculation of the per capita GDP was based on the 14.93 million population of permanent residents in Beijing last year, Cui said.

According to the statistics, Beijing ranked second among the country's 31 provinces, municipalities and regions, only after Shanghai, Cui said.

"That reflects the actual situation of Beijing's social and economic development, and at the same time shows Beijing is gradually marching toward becoming an international metropolis," he said.

Nationwide, China Tuesday revised its GDP for 2004 to 15.9878 trillion yuan (about 2 trillion U.S. dollars), up 2.3 trillion yuan, or 16.8 percent from the preliminary figures.

The country has overtaken Italy to rank 6th in world economy.

China started its first-ever national economic survey on Dec. 31, 2004. The first bulletin on the survey outcome was released earlier this month jointly by the Leading Group of the First National Economic Survey of the State Council and the National Bureau of Statistics.

Source: Xinhua