According to statistics released by China Ministry of Commerce on Mar. 15, China approved 6025 companies with foreign investment in the first two months - up 11.74 percent on a year-on-year basis. Contracted foreign investment was US$19.136 billion - up 34.54 percent year on year. Foreign investment in place was 8.319 billion - up 10.28 percent.

Up to the end of February 2004 China has altogether approved the establishment of 471,302 foreign-invested companies. Contracted foreign investment reached US$962.265 billion and foreign investment in place was US$509.789 billion.