In contrast, investment from Japan slumped 43 percent from a year earlier while FDI from the United States and European Union dropped 24.7 percent and 18.8 percent, respectively.

China's outbound investment continued to grow in September, rising 90.5 percent to $9.79 billion, said the ministry.

REPORT CARD

· China will monitor "trade irregularities" more closely after the surprisingly strong trade activity in September. Exports of individual products from some regions on the mainland to Hong Kong surged in September and the Ministry of Commerce will monitor and investigate this activity.

· The service trade kept growing in the first eight months of this year, rising by 12.2 percent to $383.9 billion. Service trade accounted for 12.2 percent of China's total trade during the period.

· Domestic retail sales grew 6.6 percent year-on-year in September after falling for three consecutive months. Online sales led the growth.

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