China's direct investment to Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries stood at around $2.57 billion in 2010 since the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area was opened a year ago, said Sun Yuanjiang, an official from the Ministry of Commerce.

Over the past year, tariffs on trade between China and ASEAN countries have been sharply reduced. Now 90 percent of goods traded between both sides enjoy zero duties, Sun said.

In 2010, direct investment from ASEAN countries to China reached $6.32 billion, an increase of 35.2 percent.