国内英语新闻:China residential land prices increased 8.63 pct in 2009: report

BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Residential land prices in 35 major Chinese cities grew 8.63 percent on average in 2009, a Ministry of Land and Resources report published Friday said.

Land prices for commercial buildings grew at a slower rate, 5.54 percent, while industrial land prices rose 2.04 percent.

The report's release comes after land plots in major Chinese cities sold for record prices at auction, adding to concern that increased land prices have driven up housing prices.

The ministry said in March residential property prices rose an average 25.1 percent from a year ago to 4,474 yuan (655.6 U.S. dollars) per square meter nationwide last year.

The report also said land sales climbed 63.4 percent from a year earlier to 1.59 trillion yuan in 2009.

Land supply for construction increased 44.2 percent year on year to 319,000 hectares in 2009 as the government accelerated infrastructure and property construction to boost domestic demand and ensure economic growth, the report said.