China Life’s revenue surges as top insurer ramps up investment in AI, chips and biotech

China Life Insurance, the country’s largest life insurer, has posted record highs in its first-half results, and says it will scale up investments in technology-related…

China Life Insurance, the country’s largest life insurer, has posted record highs in its first-half results, and says it will scale up investments in technology-related sectors while seeking to become a long-term partner for innovative enterprises.

The Shanghai- and Hong Kong-listed insurer recorded revenue of 434.3 billion yuan (US$64.6 billion), up 81.5 per cent year on year, according to interim results released on Thursday.

Net profit surged more than 228 per cent to 134.5 billion yuan.

The company, the world’s largest life insurer by market value, attributed profit growth to business development with risk control, progress in product and business diversification, refined asset allocation and robust investment returns.

“Investment in areas related to new quality productive forces represents a key growth driver best positioned to deliver differentiated returns, and there lies broad potential for future investment and layout,” vice-president Liu Hui said at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.

“Our investment portfolio includes ChangXin Memory Technologies. Next, we will increase investments in sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, healthcare, biotechnology and new-generation infrastructure.”