Wang Jun, an expert at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, a government think tank, said the "outstanding" FDI figures show that foreign investors "are optimistic about China's economic growth prospects and market potential in the medium and long term.

"Industrial leaders aren't as downbeat about China's economic prospects as some media reports and Western economists claim," Wang added.

Huo Jianguo, president of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, a think tank at the Ministry of Commerce, agreed.

Huo said that China is at an inflection point in terms of deepening reform and accelerating its opening-up.

"The new leadership took practical measures, including expanding access into the service sector and easing controls on the financial markets, which strengthened foreign investors' confidence in the market potential of China and the benefits of reform.

"The ongoing economic recovery in the United States and the European Union improved the cross-border investment outlook for multinational corporations," Huo said.

Investment from the US surged 43.3 percent to $711 million, but that from the EU declined 13.8 percent to $1.05 billion, according to the ministry.

China's FDI up 10.44% in January-February	China's FDI rose 16.11% in January