Foreign direct investment in China declines

Foreign direct investment in China fell in February as companies were battered by the global financial crisis but the decline was less severe than in previous months, the Commerce Ministry said Monday.

Foreign companies invested $5.8 billion in China in February, down 15.8 percent from the same month last year, ministry spokesman Yao Jian told reporters. The decline was less severe than January's 32.7 percent decline in foreign investment.

Foreign investment for the combined January-February period fell 26.2 percent from the same period last year, Yao said.

Data for the combined period often are considered a more …