China remained the world's second largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2019, by attracting 140 billion U.S. dollars, a United Nations report said on Monday.

According to the "Global Investment Trends Monitor" published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), global FDI flows remained flat in 2019 at 1.39 trillion U.S. dollars, a one percent decline from the revised figure of 1.41 trillion U.S. dollars in 2018.

"This is against the backdrop of weaker macroeconomic performance and policy uncertainty for investors, including trade tensions," said the report.

FDI flows to developed countries remained at a historically low level, decreasing by a further six percent to an estimated 643 billion U.S. dollars, whereas FDI flows to developing economies remained stable at an estimated 695 billion U.S. dollars.

The report said that FDI inflows to China remained stable at 140 billion U.S. dollars, making the country the second largest recipient of FDI after the United States, which attracted 251 billion U.S. dollars.

"UNCTAD expects FDI flows to rise marginally in 2020 on the back of further modest growth of the world economy," the report said.