BEIJING — China reported a current account surplus in 2019 amid strong external demand for goods, a narrowing deficit in services trade and a huge inflow of foreign investment.

The surplus in the current account stood at $177.5 billion by the end of last year, data from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) showed on Feb 14.

Surplus of goods trade rose to some $462.8 billion while services trade saw the deficit drop to $261.4 billion.

The net inflow of direct investment stayed at a high level of $59.1 billion, while securities investment saw a surplus of nearly $60 billion.

China's international balance of payments maintained a basic equilibrium, with stable cross-border capital flows, noted Wang Chunying, SAFE spokeswoman and chief economist.

Considering China's sound economic fundamentals and huge development potential, its balance of payments will stay generally stable and balanced in the future, Wang said in an online statement.