Businesses in China's capital exported US$1.71 billion worth of goods in July, setting a record for the six month in a row.

Beijing's foreign trade stood at US$7.884 billion in July, up 26.6 over the same month of last year. The total included US$1.71 billion in export value, up 21.4 percent; and US$6.174 billion in import value, up 28.1 percent, according to the municipal administration of commerce.

Beijing approved the establishment of 157 foreign-funded businesses in July, up 45.4 percent from the same month of last year. The city attracted US$590 million in contracted foreign capital in July, up 130 percent year-on-year. But the foreign direct investment (FDI) actually used in the city went down 15.6 percent to US$140 million for the month.

In the first seven months of the year, FDI amounted to US$4.2 billion in Beijing, up 160 percent over the year-earlier level; and foreign investment actually used stood at US$1.86 billion, up 56.4 percent, the administration said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2004)