- China: According to report by the OECD dedicated to financial markets, China is the second largest recipient of Direct Foreign Investments (DFI) in the world, after the United States, having received closed to USD 306 billion for the 1979 to 1999 period. This amount represents 10% of the direct investments made in the world and 30% of the investments made in emerging countries, during the period examined. The investors are clearly attracted by the potential of the Chinese market which represents some 1.2 billion consumers. Furthermore, the OECD analysts feel it "quite possible that China maintain economic growth at rates of around 6 to 7% over the next ten year". The most significant foreign investors are Hong Kong, Japan and the United States then Western Europe.