CRI听力:China shrugs off investment concerns

The latest stats released by the Commerce Ministry continue to show China remains a popular destination for off-shore investment.

Responding to suggestions of a deterioration of the investment market in China, Ministry spokesperson Shen Danyang says the data just doesn't back up those assertions.

"Last year, foreign investment in grew by 6.4 percent. Through the first eight months of this year, those numbers have increased by 4.5-percent. The amount of foreign capital China has put into actual use has been the most among developing countries for 24 consecutive years."

One area in particular the Commerce Ministry is pointing to is the services sector.

Overall foreign trade in the service sector through China through the first 7-months of this year sits at some 3-trillion yuan, which is well over 450-billion U.S. dollars.

Beyond the numbers, Shen Danyang says the Commerce Ministry is also taking steps to make it easier for foreign investment.

"The Chinese government will pursue, as usual, a policy that encourages foreign investment to maintain continuity and stability in its policies for foreign investment. The areas for foreign investment in China will not narrow, but only widen; the business environment in China will not deteriorate, but only become better."

The Commerce Ministry is also pointing to this month's Business 20 Summit in Hangzhou, as well as the China International Fair for Trade and Investment in Xiamen as further proof of the reliabilty of foreign investment opportunities in China.

Commerce officials also suggest the push to create more value for companies in China is paying off, saying they remain confident in increasing services trade volumes to over 1 trillion U.S. dollars by 2020.