BEIJING — China’s non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) maintained healthy growth in the first half of this year, official data showed on July 16.

Non-financial ODI in 151 countries and regions amounted to 346.8 billion yuan (about $50.4 billion) in the period, up 0.1 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

In June alone, the ODI rose 6.3 percent year-on-year to 63.7 billion yuan.

“China’s ODI cooperation has maintained steady and healthy development in the first six months,” said MOC official Han Yong.

During the period, Chinese companies added a total of $6.8 billion worth of investment into 51 countries along the Belt and Road, accounting for 12.6 percent of the total.

The structure of outbound investment continued to improve, with investment mainly going into sectors including leasing and business services, manufacturing and retail as well as information and technology, according to the ministry.