The total volume of retail sales in China will likely grow by 16 percent next year said Chen Deming, minister of Commerce, at the ministry's annually-held 2009 working conference. This figure assumes that government's macro-level economic policies will help contain inflation and continue to stimulate demand.

The Commerce minister also predicted the commodity trade will grow by 8 percent from 2009, and the service trade will increase by 10 percent from 2009.

After a ten month decline, foreign direct investment in China began to grow again in August, and that growth will likely continue into next year, Chen predicted.

China's investment overseas in the non-financial sector will reach $46 billion in 2009, Chen said.

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