FOREIGN direct investment in China rose for the fourth consecutive month in May, with increases from European countries and the United States, the Ministry of Commerce said today.
Foreign investors channeled a total of US$9.26 billion into China last month - up 0.29 percent from a year earlier.
The pace in May slowed slightly from the gain of 0.4 percent in April, according to the ministry figures.
Commerce Ministry Spokesman Shen Danyang said China's inbound foreign investment has been relatively stable against the backdrop of shrinking global investment amid economic recession.
This indicates its economic competitiveness and foreign investors' confidence in the country, said Shen.
Investors from the European Union and the US raised their capital input in China, despite various uncertainties.
During the January-May period, investment from the 27-member EU rose 24.1 percent to US$3.4 billion, while capital from US firms was up 22.6 percent to US$1.6 billion.
China attracted a total of US$47.6 billion foreign investment in the first five months, up 1.03 percent annually.
Meanwhile, China's outbound direct investment surged 20 percent to US$34.3 billion in the first five months, indicating Chinese investors' strong enthusiasm of globalizing their businesses.