China's foreign debt stood at US$323 billion at the end of 2006, up 14.9 percent on the previous year, according to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE).

The SAFE announced Thursday that of the total foreign debt, US$139 billion was medium to long-term debt, up 14 billion dollars or 11.5 percent; while short-term debt was US$184 billion, up 27.5 billion or 17.6 percent.

The amount of sovereign debt was US$34 billion, accounting for 16 percent of the total; foreign invested enterprises accounted for US$61 billion, or 28 percent; and foreign financial institutions in China made up 23 percent, at 50 billion, according to the SAFE.

Preliminary statistics show that in 2006 all of China's foreign debt indices were under the international standard safety line.

(Xinhua News Agency April 20, 2007)