Foreign direct investment in China weakened slightly in December but ended 2010 up strongly after falling the previous year amid the global crisis, official figures showed Tuesday.

Foreign spending on Chinese factories and other nonfinancial assets in December rose 15.6 percent from a year earlier to $14 billion, the Commerce Ministry said. That was down from November's 38.2 percent surge.

Total FDI for 2010 was up 17.4 percent from the previous year to $105.7 billion, ministry spokesman Yao Jian said. He cited an "improving investment environment" but gave no forecast for investment growth this year.

FDI includes spending on factories, real estate and other assets but excludes investment in stocks and other financial instruments.

China's FDI slid 2.3 percent in 2009 as crisis-hit companies cut spending. It rebounded as investors rushed to take advantage of China's quick recovery from the crisis.

China's economic growth eased to 9.6 percent in the three months ending in September from a post-crisis high of 11.9 percent in the first quarter. The World Bank is forecasting 8.7 percent growth this year.