China's e-book revenues surge in eight years

BEIJING - China's e-book revenues have grown from 150 million yuan ($24.5 million) in 2006 to 4.5 billion yuan in 2014, with an increase of 20.5 percent annually since 2012.

The revenue of digital magazines grew from 500 million yuan in 2006 to 1.43 billion yuan in 2014, said Wei Yushan, head of the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication (CAPP).

China's digital publishing industry grossed 338.8 billion yuan in 2014, according to Wei.

Another national survey done by the CAPP showed that in 2014, digital reading has become the main type of reading. Of digital readers, more than half were reading on mobile devices.

Sun Shoushan, deputy chief of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, said that favorable State policies, market needs and technological innovation are main reasons for the development of digital reading.

As China promotes its "Internet Plus" strategy, first presented by Premier Li Keqiang in March this year, Sun said that the national plan to promote reading and large online population will continue to boost the industry.

By the end of 2014, China has an online population of 649 million, with 557 million accessing the Internet through a phone or other mobile devices.