China's new media, including mobile and Internet media, generated 114 billion yuan (US$14.7 billion) in 2006.

The outcome, representing one third of China's media industry revenues, rose by 56 percent from the previous year, said Wang Liming, deputy director of the China Media Research Center.

Mobile media, including cell phone, short messaging services and cell phone broadcasting, generated 88.8 billion yuan (US$11.4 billion) last year, up 41.3 percent.

Meanwhile, Internet media generated 25.2 billion yuan (US$3.2 billion), with online games rising by 62 percent and advertising by 48.2 percent.

"The booming industry is expected to see a higher growth this year as rural areas still have potential," Wang said. "China's 'Go West' strategy will create more mobile device users."

China, with a population of more than 1.3 billion, had 400 million cell phone users and 137 million Internet users by the end of 2006, most of them urban residents, especially in eastern coastal areas.

(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2007)