China attracted some US$63 billion of foreign direct investment last year, but it is still a land of mystery for many overseas investors.

Now the Chinese government hopes to help overcome investment difficulties with its series of books, Doing Business In China.

The series includes 32 books covering 31 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, detailing business information for nearly every corner of the Chinese mainland.

This is the first time the government has released comprehensive business information for investors.

"The books aim to facilitate foreigners' interest in investing in China as the country further opens up to the world," said Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai.

He said the series was expected to help provide more opportunities for enterprises at home and abroad when China is more integrated in the global economy.

To help create trade or investment opportunities, the authors detailed the investment and business environment for each city and province.

They not only provide investment and trade regulations, industrial statistics and conditions, but also information such as benchmark land prices and operating costs.

The books also give background information on each place, ranging from tourism and local products to population.

"In the age of the Internet, people do not lack information. But what they do lack is comprehensive and authorized information," said Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

He said the books emphasize the differences between places.

For example, industries that are given priority in each province or region are highlighted to guide potential foreign investors.

South China's Guangdong Province gives development priority to nine industries including petrochemicals, textiles, electrical appliances and machinery while Beijing places high value on sectors like electronics, information, finance and culture.

Services, and manufacturing of electronics, textiles and food are highlighted in the Guangdong Province book, while natural resources and agriculture are promoted for Qinghai Province.

(Source: China Daily February 14, 2007)