China Unicom Ltd, the mainland's number two mobile carrier, beat forecasts yesterday with a 9.7 per cent rise in 2005 earnings even as rival China Mobile grabbed market share. Unicom earned 4.93 billion yuan (US$613.9 million). The result beat a consensus of 4.74 billion yuan, according to the average of 26 analysts polled by Reuters Estimates. Unicom's net subscriber additions have languished since mid-2005, while China Mobile has been achieving high net user additions. But with most of the mainland's wealthiest customers signed up, both firms have had to look to less affluent customers for growth, dampening profits. (HK Edition)

China Unicom is seeking local or foreign partners to participate in its CDMA mobile service business, raising concerns the company may offload the loss-making operation in the future. Chairman Chang Xiaobing said that local or foreign firms could help to turn around the CDMA business. (South China Morning Post)

China's high-tech products will increase from 28.6 percent of total exports last year to 35 percent by 2010 as the nation focuses on innovation, the National Development and Reform Commission said yesterday on its Website. China will employ favorable tax policies and other incentives to support the computer, telecommunications and integrated-circuit industries and encourage companies to develop products based on homegrown intellectual property, according to new guidelines. (Shanghai Daily)