China actually used US$41.95 billion in foreign direct
investment, in the first eight months this year, up 12.8 percent
over the same period of 2006, the Ministry of Commerce announced on
Thursday.
The country approved the establishment of 24,848 foreign-funded
companies in the same period, down 5.26 percent from the previous
year, said the ministry.
In August, the establishment of 3,150 foreign-funded firms were
approved, down 8.83 percent year-on-year, while the actual use of
foreign investment went up 11.87 percent to US$5.02 billion.
China's actual use of foreign direct investment had cumulatively
exceeded US$750 billion by the end of June this year since the
beginning of its opening-up policy in 1978.
China's Vice Commerce Minister Wei Jianguo said last month that
China would unswervingly push forward opening-up and reform and
continue to attract foreign investment in an active and effective
way.
Currently, more than 28 million people, or about 10 percent of
the employed population in cities and towns of the country, work in
foreign-funded enterprises.
(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2007)
