ODI gets a boost from Belt and Road

Economies along the Belt and Road Initiative and emerging industries have become the hot draws for China's outbound direct investment, as Beijing steers toward a healthier and more rational ODI portfolio.

Chinese investments in regions along the route grew by 5.8 percent year-on-year to $1.79 billion in the first two months of the year, claiming 13.3 percent of the total ODI, said the Ministry of Commerce.

A sharpened investment focus on the real economy and emerging industries is sending ODI figures high in manufacturing and information technology. Investment in the two sectors took up a combined 42.3 percent of the total investment through February, compared with just 17.1 percent a year ago, said the ministry.