SHANGHAI — Shanghai recorded 60 new regional headquarters of multinationals in 2021, bringing the total number of such regional headquarters to 831, said Gong Zheng, the mayor of Shanghai, at a press conference on Jan 23.

The number of foreign-invested research centers in Shanghai reached 506, with a rise of 25 in 2021. "The city remains a hot destination for foreign investment to expand their industrial chains and beef up innovation," said Gong.

Statistics showed the actual use of foreign capital in Shanghai reached $22.55 billion last year, up 11.5 percent year-on-year, a record high despite COVID-19.