Despite a slight economic slowdown in July, China still maintained its appeal to foreign investors.

The foreign direct investment (FDI) that flowed into China in July rose 29.2 percent year on year to reach $6.924 billion, said the Ministry of Commerce at a press conference on August 17.

The figure brought the FDI flow to China in the first seven months of the year to $58.35 billion, an increase of 20.65 percent from a year earlier, said Yao Jian, a spokesman of the ministry.

From January to July, a total of 14,459 foreign-invested companies were approved for establishment in China, up 17.9 percent year on year.

Analyzed by sector, the manufacturing industry received 47.94 percent of the FDI inflows in the first seven months, compared with 45.09 percent for the service sector.

"A stable economy, unmatched market opportunities and favorable policy environment will continue to spark interest among foreign investors," said Zuo Xiaolei, chief economist at the Beijing-based China Galaxy Securities Co. Ltd., in a report.