China used a record US$46.8 billion in overseas investment in 2001, a rise of 14.9 percent from the previous year, Foreign Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng said Tuesday.
China absorbed US$69.19 billion in contractual foreign investment last year, a yearly of 10.43 percent.
Obvious increase was recorded in the number of newly approved high-tech projects, information technology and large petrochemical projects and foreign-funded research and development centers.
At the same time, more overseas investment went to central and western China, Shi said at a press conference sponsored by the on-going Fifth Session of the Ninth National People's Congress.
(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2002)
