BEIJING, Jan 13: Actual foreign direct investment in China (FDI) last year slid 0.5 per cent to $60.33 billion from 2004, the government said on Friday.

The Ministry of Commerce statement gave no contracted investment figures, which signal future commitments rather than actual money spent.

Investment figures for December were also not provided.

Hong Kong was the biggest source of foreign investment last year, with capital flows totalling $17.49 billion, up 29.75 per cent, the ministry said.

China approved a total of 44,001 foreign funded enterprise throughout 2005.

In 2004, actual foreign direct investment in China rose 13.3 per cent to $60.63 billion on an annul basis, the report said.—AFP