Overseas direct investment (ODI) to China surged in the first eight months this year, in both contractual and used volumes.
Figures released by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) Thursday show that China approved a total of 16,344 overseas-invested ventures from January to August, 18.55 percent higher than the same period of last year.
The contractual ODI volume totaled US$43.75 billion, up 31.56 percent, and the actual investment volume reached US$27.44 billion, up 20.39 percent.
Analysts said that the slow-down in the world economy has driven many investors to the booming Chinese market. The country's upcoming entry into the World Trade Organization is another important factor for the ODI surge.
Currently, China has a total of 380,689 overseas-invested ventures, with contractual investment volume of US$720.467 billion. The actual ODI in China has so far totaled US$376.063 billion.
(peopledaily.com.cn 09/14/2001)
