A TOTAL of 41,947 new foreign-invested companies were established in China during the first 10 months of the year, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed Friday.

The figure marked a 32.1% increase from the same period a year earlier.

During the period, foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Chinese mainland in actual use came in at 987.01 billion yuan (US$137.6 billion), down 9.4% year on year.

Specifically, FDI in manufacturing rose 1.9% year on year to 283.44 billion yuan, with that in high-tech manufacturing logging an increase of 9.5%.

FDI from Canada, the United Kingdom and France surged 110.3%, 94.6% and 90%, respectively, the data showed.

China has reiterated the country’s commitment to market opening up and its efforts to ensure a level playing field for foreign investors.

The country will shorten its negative list for foreign investment in a reasonable manner and scrap all restrictions for foreign investors entering the manufacturing industry, said Li Chao with the National Development and Reform Commission at a press conference Thursday. (Xinhua)