BEIJING - China's total outbound direct investment (ODI) rose 6.2 percent year-on-year to $40.9 billion in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, according to data released Thursday by the Ministry of Commerce.

In the first three months of the year, non-financial ODI went up 4.4 percent to $35.68 billion, He Yadong, a ministry spokesperson, said at a regular press briefing.

Non-financial ODI in countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative reached $8.87 billion in Q1 - increasing by 15.6 percent year-on-year.

During this period, turnover of overseas-contracted projects amounted to $34.18 billion, up 5.5 percent year-on-year. The value of new contracts for such projects, meanwhile, surged by 26 percent to $58.67 billion in Q1.