Objective To explore the effect of EBV infection on proliferation and invasiveness of gastric cancer cell. Method BGC823, an EBV-negative human gastric cancer cell line, was infected by EBV. The cell proliferation and ability of invasion were studied by MTT method and in vitro invasive assay, respectively. Cell cycle was investigated by flow cytometry. RT-PCR was used to detect the EBNAs, LMP1 and EBER1 in the infected cell. Result The A ratio of EBV-infected cells increased by 34. 34% and the population of invasive cells increased by 28.72%. The cell percentage of S phase, which was 36. 7% at control group cell, was increased to 41. 9% while the cell percentage of G0/G1 was decreased. EBNA1 and EBER1 were detected in EBV infected gastric cancer cells while EBNA2 and LMP1 were both negative. Conclusion Epstein-Barr virus infection promoted proliferation and upregulated invasion of human gastric cancer cell. EBV infection may play an important role in the carcinogenesis and progression of human gastric cancer.