73

A total of 73 Chinese firms joined the ranks of Fortune Global 500 for this year, 12 more compared with that of 2011, according to a list released by fortunechina.com on July 9.

16.04 million

China had a birth rate of 4.79 per 1,000 people in 2011, with 16.04 million newborns. The birth rate has remained stable and low, according to the National Population and Family Planning Commission.

1.28 trillion yuan

Tourism revenue totaled 1.28 trillion yuan ($202 billion) in the first half of this year, up 17.3 percent from last year's same period, the National Tourism Administration said on July 11.

500,000

China has set a target of producing and selling 500,000 energy-efficient and alternative-energy vehicles annually by 2015, and 5 million such units by 2020, according to a blueprint released by the State Council on July 9.

$28.65 billion

The transaction value of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in the first half of 2012 totaled $28.65 billion.

422

In the first half, China saw 422 M&A cases. Of the total, 60 Chinese companies completed overseas M&As, with the transaction value reaching $19.42 billion.

$14.76 billion

The transaction value of M&As in energy and mineral resources sector stood at $14.76 billion in the first half, accounting for 51.5 percent of the total.