China's insurers have in total premiums of 306.08 billion yuan in the first six months, up 13 percent year-on-year, according to statistics from the Insurance Regulatory Commission.

 

Premiums for property insurance went up 15.3 percent to 78.13 billion yuan while those for life insurance registered were up 11.3 percent to 200.56 billion yuan.

 

Premiums for health insurance were up 21 percent to 19.33 billion yuan and accident insurance premiums reached 8.06 billion yuan, up 15.8 percent.

 

During the first half, China's insurers paid out 63.52 billion yuan in indemnity, up 17.9 percent. Pay-outs on property cover ranked highest at 35.35 billion yuan, followed by life insurance (19.1 billion yuan), health (5.95 billion yuan) and accidents (2.31 billion yuan).

 

By the end of June, total assets of China's insurers were 1.74 trillion yuan, up 13.6 percent from the end of last year.

 

The government approved the establishment of seven new firms from January to June, bringing the country's total to 100.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 20, 2006)