More than 31.03 million residents on the Chinese mainland went overseas in 2005, up 7.53 percent over the previous year, according to figures released by the Bureau of Exit-Entry Administration of the Ministry of Public Security on Monday.

Among them, 19.32 percent went overseas for sightseeing, 18.74 percent for visits, and 14.31 percent for business and conferences, said Cui Zhikun, director of the bureau.

The number of destination countries and regions for Chinese travelers has increased to 234, with Hong Kong, Macao, Japan, Vietnam, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Thailand, the United States, Singapore and Malaysia topping the list, Cui said.

At the same time, more than 20.25 million people from 234 countries and regions came to the Chinese mainland in 2005, up 19.52 percent over the previous year.

The top 10 countries for people traveling to the Chinese mainland were the Republic of Korea, Japan, Russia, the United States, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Mongolia, Thailand and Britain.

About 46.13 percent of overseas visitors came to the Chinese mainland for tourism, and 15.18 percent for business and conferences.

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2006)