BEIJING — China's outbound investment was generally stable during the first three quarters of the year, although the raging COVID-19 pandemic and other factors dampened cross-border investment globally, the Ministry of Commerce said on Oct 22.

Chinese companies hiked investment in countries along the Belt and Road during the period, with non-financial direct investment surging 29.7 percent year-on-year to reach $13.02 billion, Gao Feng, spokesperson for the ministry, told a press briefing.