FDI still surging ahead

China attracted US$24.58bn in foreign direct investment in the first half of 2002, 19 per cent more than in the same period last year, Xinhua reported. The total for the first five months was US$16.92bn, indicating that US$7.66bn was invested in June. Contracted FDI over the six-month period was nearly US$44bn, a year-on-year increase of 32 per cent. The foreign trade ministry approved 15,155 new foreign-funded businesses during the period, 26 per cent higher.