A survey released in Paris yesterday by the auditors Ernst and Young said China is most likely to be seen as top choice as a destination for foreign investment.

More than half, 52 percent, of international investors questioned named China as the most attractive country for foreign investment in 2005. The equivalent figure was 37 percent in 2004.

The survey found that China has a better chance of attracting capital than the US, which scored 39 percent.

India, with 18 percent, and Poland, 17 percent, currently rank as more likely to receive foreign investment than Germany, 16 percent, and the UK, 13 percent.

In terms of regional choices, China stood third in the list after western Europe, 63 percent, and central and eastern Europe, 55 percent, but before the US/Canada at 45 percent.

Investors said they were drawn to central and eastern Europe and China by low labor costs, better competitiveness and productivity rates.

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2005)