BEIJING — China's non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) reached 287.06 billion yuan in the first five months of the year, up 2.3 percent year-on-year, official data showed on June 23.

In US dollar terms, the ODI rose 3 percent from a year ago to $44.6 billion, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

In the January-May period, non-financial direct investment into countries along the Belt and Road increased 10.2 percent year-on-year to $8.19 billion.

The country's investment in wholesale and retail surged 20.8 percent from a year earlier to $8.08 billion, the ministry said, adding that investments in construction, scientific research and technical services also saw an increase.