Graphics: Capital Claim

(Beijing) – By one measure China became a net capital exporter for the first time last year, the Ministry of Commerce recently said. Overseas investments totaled US$ 116 billion, ministry spokesman Shen Danyang said, while foreign investments into the country totaled US$ 119.6 billion. However, Shen said that if investment via third countries and profit reinvestment by Chinese companies are considered, China had overseas investments of US$ 140 billion. The services sector was main target of investment in either direction, accounting for more than half of inbound investment and nearly two-thirds of the outbound variety.