North China's industrial and port city of Tianjin has drawn 12 billion U.S. dollars in investment in the past five years from 114 of the world's largest 500 firms, according to sources with the Tianjin municipal government.

Statistics show that Tianjin attracted 1,309 foreign invested projects in 2005, up 18.8 percent from the previous year, hitting a record high.

The five main magnets for investment from overseas include the automobiles and special parts, chemicals, mechanics, electronics, and bio-pharmacy industries.

The service industry has also allured overseas investment in the fields of real estate, port logistics, wholesale and retail, with port logistics standing at the top.

In 2005, 13 of the world's largest 500 transnational firms invested in 15 projects in Tianjin, with a total input of 650 million U.S. dollars.

Source: Xinhua