In the first six months of 2005, China Life, the leading life insurance company in Chinese mainland, recorded net profit of 5,208 million yuan (US$643.75 million), a significant increase of 85.2 percent from the same period in 2004.

Yang Cao, chairman of the Board and president of China Life, said here on Monday that the better performance in the first half year of 2005 is primarily attributable to an increase in investment income, business development and the restructuring of business mix as well as cost control.

According to the company, it's total revenues amounted to 49,418 million yuan (US$6,108.5 million) for the first half year, a 26.9 percent increase over the same period last year.

(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2005)