China's capital and financial account remained at a deficit in the fourth quarter of 2012, dragged down by lackluster foreign investment amid a faltering global economic recovery.

The capital and financial account shrank to $31.8 billion from $51.7 billion in the third quarter, said the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

Meanwhile, the country's current account surplus slid to $65.8 billion in the October-December period, down from $70.8 billion in the previous quarter.

In 2012, China saw a $117.3-billion deficit in the capital and financial account and a $213.8-billion surplus in the current account.