Belt and Road Initiative sparks big surge in FDI

Foreign direct investment in China's agriculture and forestry sectors by investors from countries along the Belt and Road Initiative surged 2,171 percent and 1,137 percent year-on-year, respectively, in August, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

FDI from the nations and regions into China's animal husbandry and fishery industries also rose 127 percent and 103 percent, respectively, officials said, indicating China's huge demand for products such as grain, vegetables, high-protein food and aquatic products remains attractive to international investors.

The initiative, proposed by China in 2013, is a trade and infrastructure network that includes the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.