China remains among top investors in Germany last year: official report

China continued to be one of the leading sources of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Germany last year, nearly unchanged from 2023, according to a report released on Monday by Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI), the federal agency responsible for promoting foreign investment.

Chinese companies initiated 199 FDI projects in Germany last year, nearly matching the 200 projects recorded in 2023. Among all source countries, China ranked third, following the United States and Switzerland.

The report noted that Germany attracted a total of 1,724 FDI projects in 2024, excluding mergers and acquisitions. This represents a slight decline from 1,759 projects in 2023 and 1,783 in 2022.

Specifically, China's main investment sectors are electronics and automation, accounting for 25 percent, energy and raw materials account for 21 percent, and transportation and logistics account for 19 percent, according to the report. 

In terms of business forms, marketing and sales projects account for 41 percent, production and research and development projects account for 26 percent, and projects positioned as European headquarters account for 11 percent, according to the report. 

"In recent years, China's greenfield investment in Germany has remained stable. Direct investment from China, especially the greenfield investment, has always been among the top. Of course, China's technological strength has played a key role here and has also promoted bilateral cooperation," said Achim Hartig, managing director of GTAI.

China remains among top investors in Germany last year: official report

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that the country is at a critical stage and must achieve national unity, emphasizing that maintaining internal cohesion is of utmost importance.

In a televised address, Rodriguez called on the public to continue trusting the government under the current highly complex political circumstances.

Her statement comes in the wake of a January 3 military operation conducted by the United States, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.

The operation resulted in at least 100 fatalities.

Rodriguez, who was sworn in as acting president two days later on January 5, framed her appeal for unity against this backdrop of external intervention.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez denounced the U.S. actions as a "war crime of the 21st century" when speaking at an international cultural event on Sunday.

Nanez condemned not only the January 3 airstrikes but also the associated cyber and electromagnetic attacks.

He accused the United States of violating international law through the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife, while attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, represent a flagrant breach of humanitarian norms.

He reiterated that the stigmatization and military attacks against Venezuela are driven by economic interests, particularly the desire to control its abundant natural resources.

Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation