As part of China's economic growth, the number of mergers and acquisitions in which Chinese companies were involved has risen sharply in the first nine months of the year.

According to the latest research report by the British firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), in the first three quarters of this year, Chinese companies were involved in a total of 257 overseas mergers and acquisitions. The number in this period has already overtaken the total number of the previous year and sets a new record. The total trade amount reached 45.2 billion US dollars.

Most companies expanding abroad are private firms, whose trading volume in terms of overseas mergers and acquisitions is almost three times higher than that of state-owned enterprises. The number of mergers and acquisitions overseas has increased by 23 percent compared to last year and the total amount of trading volume has increased by 55 percent.

According to the report, the private companies put their focus on manufacturing companies with advanced technologies as well as consumer goods companies with well-known brands and large customer bases.

China listed companies make up 62 percent of the Chinese companies that merge with foreign companies. The average trading volume of those listed companies is significantly higher than that of non-listed companies.

In addition, more and more Chinese financial investors and private equity firms worked closely together on mergers and acquisitions abroad with listed Chinese companies. At the same time, Chinese financial investors and private equity groups also participated in a large amount of overseas mergers and acquisitions.

In the first three quarters, the trading volume of financial investors and private equity increased by 62 percent compared to last year.