Beijing reported double-digit growth in its gross domestic product (GDP) from January to October, said the Beijing Municipal Statistics Bureau on Wednesday.

According to latest statistics released by the bureau, Beijing's GDP totaled 278.8 billion yuan (US$34 billion) during the period, a year-on-year increase of 10.1 percent, the first time Beijing realized double-digit growth since the SARS epidemic outbreak in April.

The added value of industry maintained rapid growth, which topped 78.3 billion yuan (US$9.5 billion), up 13.1 percent over the same period last year. Vehicle manufacturing machinery, oil refining, ferrous metal smelting and the chemical industry all registered fast growth.

Exports in the industrial sector reported 32.2 billion yuan (US$3.9 billion) in the first ten months, up 20.4 percent year-on-year.

The high-tech sector reported a rise of 8.9 percent in added value growth, which totaled 25 billion yuan (3 billion US dollars), slightly down 0.7 percentage of increase over the first six months of the year.

Investment in fixed assets totaled 152 billion yuan (US$18.5 billion) during the period, up 21.3 percent. Meanwhile, investment in renovation projects reported a year-on-year increase of 65.8 percent, amounting to 14 billion yuan (US$1.7 billion).

Gross retail sales totaled 157 billion yuan (US$19 billion), up 14 percent over the same period last year.

(XinNews Agencyhua  November 13, 2003)