The SAFE recently released China's International Investment Position for year-end 2008.

The statistics reveal that at the end of 2008, China's external financial assets hit US$ 2920.3 billion, up 23 percent over that at the end of 2007; external financial liabilities reached US$ 1401.3 billion, a rise of 17 percent year on year; external net financial assets totaled US$ 1519 billion, an increase of 31 percent year on year..

Among the external financial assets, direct investments abroad amounted to US$169.4 billion, portfolio investments were US$251.9 billion, other investments were US$532.8 billion, and reserves assets were US$1966.2 billion, accounting for 6 percent, 9 percent, 18 percent, and 67 percent respectively. In terms of external financial liabilities, foreign direct investments totaled US$876.3 billion, portfolio investments US$161.2 billion, and other investments US$ 363.7 billion, accounting for 63 percent, 11 percent, and 26 percent respectively.

The International Investment Position (hereinafter referred to as the IIP) is a statistical statement which reflects at a specific point the stocks of financial assets and liabilities of one country or region to other countries or regions in the world, and together with the balance of payments statements (BOP statements) it constitutes the complete international accounts system of the country or region to show the trade flows.

The SAFE has adjusted its IIP for year-end 2006 and year-end 2007 according to the latest data.

                                 China's International Investment Position
                                                                                                               Unit: US$ 100 Mln

Items	End of 2006	End of 2007	End of 2008
Net Position	6534	11619	15190
A. Assets	16881	23744	29203
1. Direct Investments Abroad	906	1160	1694
2. Portfolio Investment	2652	2846	2519
2.1 Equity Securities	15	196	208
2.2 Debt Securities	2637	2650	2311
3. Other Investment	2515	4265	5328
3.1 Trade Credits	1161	1399	1340
3.2 Loans	670	888	1071
3.3 Currency and Deposits	474	723	1060
3.4 Other Assets	210	1255	1857
4. Reserves Assets	10808	15473	19662
4.1 Monetary Gold	123	170	169
4.2 Special Drawing Rights	11	12	12
4.3 Reserves Position in the Fund	11	8	20
4.4 Foreign Exchange	10663	15282	19460
B. Liabilities	10347	12125	14013
1. Foreign Direct Investments	6144	7037	8763
2. Portfolio Investment	1207	1466	1612
2.1 Equity Securities	1065	1290	1440
2.2 Debt Securities	142	176	172
3. Other Investment	2996	3622	3637
3.1 Trade Credits	1040	1331	1141
3.2 Loans	985	1033	1030
3.3 Currency and Deposits	589	785	910
3.4 Other Liabilities	382	473	557

 Note: 1. This IIP employs rounded-off numbers.
2. Net position refers to assets minus liabilities, + means net assets, and - means net liabilities.