BEIJING - US investment in China dropped sharply by 28 percent, while foreign direct investment (FDI) maintained double-digit growth from January to April, the Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday.

Economists said they believed the US investment decline is temporary, and the Chinese economy, over the long term, will provide US companies with increased investment opportunities.

US investment from January to April decreased to $1.03 billion and the number of US firms setting up in China also fell by 3.85 percent to 475.