China's Ministry of Commerce spokesman, Shenanyang, announced on June 18, that foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States rose 144 percent in the first five months of this year to US $2.03 billion. The strong growth came in the midst of a 10.2 percent decline of China's overall FDI in 146 countries and regions in the world in the five months. The total of US $30.8 billion in FDI was made by 2,766 Chinese companies.