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Chinese investment in the United States is expected to hit a record high this year, thanks largely to big-ticket items, according to a report from the Rhodium Group, a New York-based organization that analyzes global trends.

Chinese foreign direct investment, or outbound FDI, in the US reached $3.6 billion in the first half of this year, and covered 33 projects, the report said.

Of these, 12 were acquisitions and 21 involved green-field investments (the construction of new facilities).

The first six months of 2012 saw a record investment for any half year from China.

Thilo Hanemann, research director for Rhodium, which monitors Chinese FDI in the US, said that the large-scale investments could make 2012 a record year, beating the $5.7 billion record set in 2010.

Ge Shunqi, deputy head of the Institute of International Economics at Nankai University in Tianjin, told China Daily that with the US economy trying to get out of the doldrums, investment from China is particularly welcomed.

"Chinese investment in the US offers great potential and will help stabilize growth in the next decade."

Sang Baichuan, director of the Institute of International Business at the University of International Business and Economics, believed that a new era was dawning. "After decades of growth, Chinese enterprises are capable of entering the developed US market and China's large foreign reserves will also be of benefit."

Ge agreed and identified key investment sectors. "Investment in the US will bring differing returns to Chinese enterprises.

"Some enterprises will enjoy easier access to the US market and lower costs while others will acquire natural resources as well as high-end technology resources."

Ge added that "high-end manufacturing and public infrastructure will be the key areas for Chinese investment in the US" as the US embarks on reindustrialization.

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

CJ Henderson is a foreign expert for China Daily's online culture department. CJ is a graduate of the University of Sydney where she completed a Bachelors degree in Media and Communications, Government and International Relations, and American Studies. CJ has four years of experience working across media platforms, including work for 21st Century Newspapers in Beijing, and a variety of media in Australia and the US.