Foreign direct investment into China fell 0.1 percent to 286.41 billion yuan ($41.6 billion) in the first four months of 2017 from the same period a year earlier, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday. Foreign investment into China slowed in April, falling 4.3 percent from a year earlier to 59.91 billion yuan, compared to 6.7 percent growth in March. In the first three months of the year, foreign investment rose 1 percent.
The Chinese government has promised new measures to further open its economy to foreign investors this year, including easing limits on investment in banks and other financial institutions. Foreign investment into China last year rose 4.1 percent but was less than outbound investment for the first time as capital outflows put pressure on the government to support the yuan.