China’s European investments in downward trend, 10-year low amid coronavirus pandemic, political tensions: report

China’s European investments hit a 10-year low last year because of the pandemic and political tensions, and the trend is likely to persist in 2021, according to a report released on Wednesday.

Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) to Britain and the 27 European Union countries declined to €6.5 billion (US$7.8 billion) from €11.7 billion (US$14.1 billion) in 2019, down by 45 per cent, according to the joint report by consultancy Rhodium Group and German think tank the Mercator Institute for China Studies.