ROADS LEAD TO PROSPERITY: Cars drive on the Yan'an-Wuqi Highway on December 19, when the 109.8-km road, connecting two cities in Shaanxi Province, was officially opened (DING HAITAO)

Investment Up

Foreign direct investment (FDI) gained 2.35 percent in November compared to a year ago to reach $8.48 billion, increasing for 10 consecutive months, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed on December 18. The rate of growth was higher compared to the 1.24-percent rise in October.

From January to November, the country's FDI inflow stood at $105.51 billion, up 5.48 percent from the same period last year.

FDI from the European Union surged 17.36 percent from a year earlier to $6.82 billion in the first 11 months. Investment from the United States climbed 8.6 percent to $3.16 billion.

From January to November, Chinese investment into overseas non-financial sectors grew 28.3 percent year on year, reaching $80.24 billion.

Natural Gas Boom

China's natural gas sector will develop quickly in the near future, offering "golden opportunities" for business and cooperation, a Hong Kong thinktank commented in a report on December 16.

The report was released by the China Energy Fund Committee (CEFC) at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Fueled by the U.S. shale gas boom and the promise of a greener economy for China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15), natural gas "appears to be a feasible and accessible option that could aid in resolving China's energy dilemma," said Dr. Patrick Ho, deputy chair and secretary general of CEFC at the report's launch.

The report also discussed the prospect of China's production of unconventional natural gas, such as shale gas, an industry still in the infant stages.

To further develop unconventional gas resources the report suggested that China needs to develop more drilling technologies, better pipeline networks and set a market-oriented approach for gas pricing and development rights.