THE Walt Disney Co, Kraft Foods Inc and Novartis International AG are among 24 multinational companies that decided to move their regional headquarters to Shanghai.

The multinationals, including six listed on the world's Fortune Global 500, were given certificates today for moving their regional headquarters to Shanghai.

It pushed the total number to 795 - including regional research and development centers - and maintained the city's status as China's top destination for regional headquarters of multinationals.

"The growing number demonstrated foreign companies' recognition of Shanghai's overall environment for foreign investments," said Sha Hailin, chairman of the city's Commission of Commerce. "It also came at a special moment when the World Expo was held in Shanghai, which greatly boosted the city's awareness among many foreigners."

Even during the downturn in the global economy, Shanghai's foreign direct investment increased 4.5 percent from a year earlier in 2009 to reach a record US$10.5 billion.

In the first six months of this year, Shanghai's foreign direct investment has already surpassed US$5.4 billion, according to the commission.

The city's accumulated investments from overseas thus amounted to US$100.7 billion, making Shanghai the third place reporting foreign investments of more than US$100 billion after Guangdong Province (US$230 billion) and Jiangsu Province (US$200 billion).

• international [,intə´næʃənəl] a.国际的，世界的 (初中英语单词)
• headquarters [´hed,kwɔ:təz] n.总部(署)，司令部 (初中英语单词)
• research [ri´sə:tʃ] n.&vi.调查；探究；研究 (初中英语单词)
• recognition [,rekəg´niʃən] n.认出；认识；承认 (初中英语单词)
• commerce [´kɔmə:s] n.商业；社交；交流 (初中英语单词)
• economy [i´kɔnəmi] n.经济；机制；组织 (初中英语单词)
• investment [in´vestmənt] n.投资；(时间等)投入 (初中英语单词)
• province [´prɔvins] n.省；领域；范围 (初中英语单词)
• decided [di´saidid] a.明显的；决定的 (高中英语单词)
• destination [,desti´neiʃən] n.目标地 (高中英语单词)
• environment [in´vaiərənmənt] n.郊区；周围；条件 (高中英语单词)
• commission [kə´miʃən] n.委任(状) vt.委任 (高中英语单词)
• billion [´biljən] num.万亿 (高中英语单词)
• status [´steitəs] n.身份；情形；状况 (英语四级单词)
• overseas [,əuvə´si:z] ad.(向)海外 a.海外的 (英语六级单词)