America News Agency

By source country and region, the number of new companies established in China from countries participating in Belt and Road cooperation increased by 19.3 percent. The number of companies from Arab countries rose by 20.6 percent, while the number from African Union member states increased by 42.8 percent. These increases effectively offset the impact of declines in the number of companies from the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan.

By contrast, the number of new companies from the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan fell by 10.7 percent, 21.4 percent and 34.9 percent, respectively.

By sector, the number of newly established foreign-funded companies increased by 27.1 percent in health and social services, 11.9 percent in wholesale and retail trade, and 11.7 percent in the accommodation and food and beverage sector.

The data show that China’s consumer market remains attractive to foreign investors and has become even more attractive in some sectors.