"More than three-fourths of Germany's foreign investments came from the West. Asian investments account for the remaining 25 percent, where China is one of the most important Asian investors."

Thomas Bozoyan, a trade expert. Germany attracted 854 foreign investment projects last year, up 3 percent from a year earlier, and Chinese money was invested in 98 of those projects, the German government says. China was the third-largest foreign-project investor in Germany, behind the United States and Switzerland.

"We are willing to take all necessary steps to facilitate Chinese businessmen to think of France as their second home."

French Minister of Foreign Affairs Laurent Fabius, speaking in Hong Kong. The foundation of the two countries' relationship is a "long-term strategic vision", he said.

"This shows that global buyers have remained cautious in clinching long-term orders due to the effects of the global financial crisis. Chinese exporters are also unwilling to accept long-term deals due to fluctuations in raw material prices and foreign exchange rates."

Liu Jianjun, deputy director of the China Foreign Trade Center. In the spring session of the Canton Fair, China's largest trade fair, there were more overseas buyers and larger trade deals compared with last year's autumn session. However, about 84 percent of orders placed at the fair came from agreements with terms of six months or less.

(China Daily 05/10/2013 page14)