FDI up 61% in Q1    

The Ministry of Commerce announced the foreign direct investment (FDI) on April 10th. In the first quarter of 2008, the FDI reached US$27.414 billion, up 61.26% year-on-year. FDI in March alone was US$9.286 billion, up 39.6% year-on-year.
    "It shows China remains an attractive market for multinationals because of its larger market volume, growing economy and demand ability as well as relatively low costs", according to a researcher.
    But the number of newly established enterprises declined. This March, China approved 2 577 foreign-invested firms, down 28.04%; and in the first three months of 2008, the government approved 6 949 foreign-invested enterprises, down 25.26% year-on-year.  "It signs global firms are increasing their investments in some large projects." Some analysts commented it.