SHANGHAI, Jul 10 -- THE membership of the Communist Party of China rose last year by 2.64 million to 72.39 million people, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported, citing the Party.

More than 19 million people applied to join the Party in 2006, an increase of 6.8 percent over the new membership in 2005, Xinhua reported, citing the party.

About 22 million members, or 31 percent of the membership, received higher education, a 1.7 percent rise over 2005, Xinhua reported. The new members and an internal education campaign have given the 86-year-old Party renewed "vitality and energy,'' Xinhua reported, citing the party.