BEIJING — China's non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) reached 424.28 billion yuan in the first seven months of the year, up 4.4 percent year-on-year, official data showed on Aug 18.

In US dollar terms, the ODI rose 3.6 percent from a year ago to 65.06 billion dollars, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Outbound leasing and business services investment rose 24.5 percent from a year earlier to $22.38 billion.

Investment in multiple fields, including wholesale and retail, manufacturing, and construction, registered growth.

In the first seven months, non-financial direct investment into countries along the Belt and Road increased 5.1 percent year-on-year to $11.87 billion.