BEIJING — China's service trade deficit rose 17.9 percent year-on-year in the first five months of the year to 688.75 billion yuan (about $101 billion), official data showed Tuesday.

The Ministry of Commerce said the deficit came mainly from tourism, transportation and uses of intellectual property rights, while consulting, information, and processing service sectors saw a surplus.

Exports of services rose 4.6 percent to 567.94 billion yuan and imports rose 11.5 percent to 1.26 trillion yuan in the first five months.

"Although the service trade deficit widened, China still saw an overall surplus when taking into consideration both goods and services," said Xian Guoyi, head of the service trade department at the ministry.

"(We) should have a correct attitude towards larger service trade deficit," Xian said.

A deficit from production-related services will help improve China's manufacturing capability, while a deficit for services related to the daily life can encourage the upgrading of consumption and improve people's lives, he said.