Overseas assets strengthen investment position

China's net international investment position grew 138% to US$287.5 billion at the end of 2005, according to China's first International Investment Report. The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) report compares China's financial and direct investments overseas to similar investments in China. It showed overseas financial assets grew 32% in 2005 to US$1.2 trillion, while the country's foreign financial liabilities totaled US$930.7 billion, up 16% from end-2004. Foreign currency reserves accounted for 68% of the country's overseas financial assets. In a statement on SAFE's website, an unidentified official said the international investment position structure played a positive role for China's financial stability.