China's foreign direct investment (FDI) grew steadily in the first three months of this year, indicating foreign investors' confidence in the Chinese economy.

China realized an FDI of some US$13.4 billion in the first quarter, up 9.5 per cent over the previous year, according to the latest statistics released yesterday by the Ministry of Commerce.

The government approved some 9,305 foreign-invested enterprises in this period.

(China Daily April 13, 2005)