Wang Weiming, chief engineer of China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said at a press conference on July 20 that value-added output from large-scale equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing rose 9.3% and 13.3% year on year, respectively, in the first half of the year. Investment in emerging sectors such as computer and office equipment manufacturing, and aerospace and equipment manufacturing posted double-digit growth. Profits at large-scale industrial "little giant" firms and high-tech enterprises surged over 20% year on year in the first five months.