BEIJING — China's investment in countries along the Belt and Road (B&R) soared 18.3 percent year-on-year to $2.72 billion in the first two months despite the economic fallout from the coronavirus epidemic, official data showed on March 26.

The value of engineering contracts signed by Chinese enterprises in 59 countries along the B&R in January and February stood at $15.36 billion, surging 25.6 percent year-on-year, a spokesperson with the Ministry of Commerce told an online press conference.

Meanwhile, China's non-financial outbound direct investment in 147 countries and regions amounted to 107.86 billion yuan ($15.5 billion) over the same period, up 1.8 percent year-on-year.