Investments in China from the?eurozone dropped by 42 percent in January as compared to a year ago, causing a slight drop of 0.3 percent in the nation's total foreign direct investment for the same period, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

China's foreign direct investment from 27 European nations shrank 42.49 percent year-on-year to $452 million last month, according to the Ministry.

Ministry spokesman Shen Danyang attributed the sharp drop in investment from the EU to "the spreading debt crisis and slackened economy in the region causing less willingness to invest abroad."

On the other hand, after declining since late last year, investment from the United States In January jumped by 29.05 percent to $342 million, according to the Ministry.

"A large proportion of the American companies say they have full confidence in investing in China," Shen said.

However, Shen added: "The outlook for China in attracting foreign direct investment this year is fairly grim," because global economic growth remains unstable, and weak global demand, difficulties in financing and rising operating costs, may deter foreign investors.

January's slump in foreign direct investment in China followed a 12.7 percent decrease in December 2011. In November 2011, foreign direct investment in China dropped 9.76 percent, the first year-on-year drop since 2009.