Chinese investment in Britain sees rapid growth

Chinese investment in Britain was 33 times higher in 2012 than 1999, Britain's official data showed on Thursday.[Special coverage]

The average annual growth rate of foreign direct investment (FDI) from Chinese companies was 31 percent over the period, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

"The portion of FDI stocks in the UK held by countries in Asia and Africa has increased over time, along with the portion of UK FDI stocks in Africa. This suggests growing links between the UK and these economies," said an ONS statement.

The Americas and Europe were the traditional sources of FDI in the Britain, which make up 91 percent of the stock of FDI in the Britain, ONS said.

In terms of sectors, since 2009, there had been a rise in the net stock of FDI from foreign countries in 13 industries and a fall in 5 industries, which together resulted in a 37 percent increase in net FDI into the Britain.