China's fixed asset investment totaled 10.987 trillion yuan (US$1.41 trillion) in 2006, up 24 percent year on year, or two percentage points lower than the same period a year earlier.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Thursday, fixed asset investment in urban areas grew 24.5 percent to 9.347 trillion yuan, down 2.7 percentage points from the previous year, while that of the rural areas surged 21.3 percent.

Fixed asset investment in central China grew 33.1 percent, while eastern and western regions were respectively up 20.6 percent and 25.9 percent.

Investment in property development reached 1.938 trillion yuan, up 21.8 percent, or 0.9 percentage points higher than the previous year.

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2007)