Private equity investment in China is set to rebound strongly this year because investors are optimistic about economic growth and the conditions for them to withdraw their funds, according to a private survey.

About 80 percent of investors expect private equity deal value in China to grow up to 25 percent in 2014, according to a Bain & Co report released yesterday. Seventy percent of them expect buyout activity to grow at a similar rate, the report said.

The report was based on a survey of about 200 private equity investors across the Asia-Pacific region, and covered nearly 80 percent of such investors in China.

"The private equity market in China is poised for growth this year as an upswing in late 2013 is expected to continue, economic growth is stable and exit activity is expected to increase in light of optimism in the initial public offering market," said Michael Thorneman, managing partner of the consulting firm.

In 2013, the deal value of private equity investment in China fell 30 percent to US$14 billion, even as the number of deals rose by 21 percent, according to Bain.

The survey revealed that investors see healthcare, consumer products and retail and technology as the top-three sectors for private equity investments in 2014.