China's CIC says considering investments in Europe

BOAO, China, April 18 (Reuters) - China's sovereign wealth fund will actively consider investment opportunities in Europe and has identified many potential targets there, its chairman said on Saturday.

Lou Jiwei, chairman of China Investment Corp (CIC), said the CIC had not invested at all in euro zone countries last year because of financial protectionism, but that now, with European countries easing scrutiny over investments by sovereign wealth funds, it was more of an option.

Lou was speaking at the Boao Forum for Asia, being held in the Chinese island province of Hainan. (Reporting by Eadie Chen and Kirby Chien; Writing by Jason Subler; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)