Chinese companies invested US$3.62
billion overseas in non-financial sectors last year, an increase of
27 percent year-on-year, the Ministry of Commerce said
on Monday.
Up to the end of the year, China's
direct investment overseas reached US$37 billion.
According to the ministry, nearly
half of Chinese investment in 2004 went to Latin America and some
40 percent to other parts of Asia, mainly in the fields of mining,
commercial services, manufacturing, wholesale and retail sales.
Chinese companies engaged in
engineering projects overseas reported a business turnover of
US$17.5 billion last year, up 26 percent on 2003. They also signed
new contracts worth US$23.8 billion, according to the ministry.
So far, 3.2 million individuals have been
dispatched overseas on labor service contracts, earning a total of
US$30.8 billion.
(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2005)