BEIJING - China's net foreign financial assets hit $1.77 trillion as of the end of 2011, up from $1.68 trillion one year earlier, the country's top foreign exchange regulator said Monday.

As of the end of last year, the nation's total foreign financial assets hit $4.72 trillion, while total foreign financial liabilities stood at $2.94 trillion, according to a statement posted on the State Administration of Foreign Exchange's website.

For the nation's foreign financial assets as of the end of 2011, reserve assets stood at $3.26 trillion, direct investment stood at $364.2 billion and securities investment reached $260 billion, the statement said.

Of its liabilities, foreign direct investment in China reached $1.8 trillion and securities investment reached $248.5 billion, according to the statement.