Deals grow along Belt and Road

Chinese companies are seeing concrete opportunities arise, both in domestic provinces and overseas countries, along the routes of the Belt and Road Initiative.

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Commerce, the nation's foreign direct investment in countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road reached $2.56 billion during the first quarter of the year, accounting for about 10 percent of the country's total FDI during the period.

Shen Danyang, a spokesman for the ministry, said China exported $144.5 billion to countries along the routes during the period, a 10 percent rise year-on-year.