According to the office in charge of the region's opening-up to the outside, the region attracted more than US$180 million of overseas investment in the January-June period.

Of the total figure, more than US$120 million are in the form of stocks, loans and financial assistance, up 5 percent from the same period last year; and the used amount of overseas investment was US$60 million, an increase of 11 percent over last year's corresponding period.

Statistics also show that the investment from Hong Kong accounted for 53 percent of the used amount; the US ranked second in funding, with 21 percent.

Moreover, the region also introduced 6.5 billion yuan from other parts of the country in the first six months.

Sources in the office said that the region, rich in natural resources, will work out new preferential policies to attract more overseas money.

(People's Daily 08/14/2001)