According to the latest statistics published by China's General Administration of Press and Publication, China's Internet game publication industry achieved actual sales of CNY18.38 billion in 2008, a year-on-year increase of 76.6%, and it brought CNY47.84 billion direct income to China's telecommunications and technology industries.

At the same time, China's home-grown online games developed rapidly last year. During the entire year of 2008, 33 online game products developed by 15 companies were introduced to the overseas markets, covering more than 40 countries and regions such as North America, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Of these games, five developed by the Beijing-based Perfect World were exported to dozens of countries and regions, including Japan, the United States, and Europe, and the company also set up a branch in the United States to operate Chinese-made online games independently. In addition, the Shanghai-headquartered Shanda entered the South Korean market by acquisition and investment in local game companies; Tencent invested USD7.5 million in acquiring MIH India Global Internet; and NetDragon not only became the first Chinese company that directly operates an online game in the United States, but also signed an agreement with the international entertainment giant Walt Disney to jointly explore the global market.

The General Administration of Press and Publication says that in 2009, it will take various measures to help Chinese game companies to export technologies, services and copyrights in addition to their successful export of products. Meanwhile, the administration will aid these companies in directly participating in the international competition and further enlarging the market share and influence of Chinese games in the international game market.