Closer Look: SOEs Can Brag They Are Big – but Not Strong

Eighty-five Chinese corporations made the latest Fortune Magazine Global 500. That is an increase of 16 from last year.

But let's take a closer look at the numbers. Nearly 90 percent of the Chinese companies are stated-owned enterprises (SOEs) and just two of the new additions are private businesses. Forty-five of the Chinese companies are central-level enterprises and 33 are state held. Only seven are private.