Communist China has emerged as the world's first in publishing the largest number of the Holy Bible after printing the 100 millionth copy, says Chinese state media.

The country's only authorized Bible-printing company said on Thursday that the 100 millionth copy was printed in July.

The Nanjing, East China-based Amity Printing Company's Chairman Qiu Zhonghui said about 60 million copies of Bible, including nine ethnic minority language editions, had been printed by his company. It has already provided 40 million copies in over 90 languages to nearly 70 countries and regions in the world.

Amity Printing, a joint venture of China's Amity Foundation and the United Bible Societies, has been publishing the Bible since 1988.

Amity Printing enjoys tax exemption in printing the Holy Book under Chinese government policies, and runs more than 70 sales outlets throughout the country, the Xinhua news agency reported.

China has more than 16 million Christians, 55,000 churches or gathering venues, 36,000 missionaries and 100,000 church volunteers, besides 18 divinity and Bible schools with 1,800 seminarians, the report added.

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