BEIJING, Feb 20 (Reuters) - China drew $9.27 billion in foreign direct

investment in January, down 7.3 percent from a year ago, the Commerce Ministry

said on Wednesday.

China has attracted a total of $111.7 billion in FDI in 2012, just shy of

2011's record $116 billion and marking the first annual fall in three years.

Beijing has said it wants to bring in $120 billion worth of FDI each year

between 2012 and 2015, though it missed its target last year.

China joined the World Trade Organisation in November 2001 and FDI inflows

have more than doubled since. OECD data shows China rivals the United States to

be the world's top FDI destination.

China's foreign direct investment (in $bln)

2013 __________________________2012____________________________ _____2011____

Jan Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec Nov Oct

9.3 11.7 8.3 8.3 8.4 8.3 7.6 12.0 9.2 8.4 11.8 7.7 9.9 12.2 8.8 8.3

*Total FDI excludes investment in the financial sector. Some of the monthly

figures are calculated based on cumulative data.

(Reporting by Aileen Wang; Editing by Nick Edwards)

Keywords: CHINA ECONOMY/FDI

(lan.wang1@thomsonreuters.com)(86 10 6627 1032)(Reuters Messaging: lan.wang1.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)

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