BEIJING — China's outbound direct investment (ODI) amounted to $143 billion in 2018, making it the world's second-largest outward investor, new government data showed.

Although the volume was down 9.6 percent year-on-year, it came second only to Japan, according to a report released by China's Ministry of Commerce, together with other departments.

At the end of 2018, the country's accumulated ODI stood at $1.98 trillion, ranking third in the world following the United States and the Netherlands.

More than 27,000 Chinese investors had established about 43,000 overseas enterprises in 188 countries and regions by the end of last year, the data showed.

China's ODI had seen rapid growth over the past decades, but authorities have set stricter rules in recent years and advised companies to make investment decisions more carefully.