Up to the end of last year, China's direct investment overseas reached $37 billion.
Last year, nearly half of Chinese investment went to Latin America and some 40 per cent to the other parts of Asia, mainly in the fields of mining, commercial service, manufacturing, wholesale and retail sales.
Chinese companies that were engaged in engineering projects overseas reported a business turnover of $17.5 billion last year, up 26 per cent year-on-year.
They also signed new contracts worth $23.8 billion, the ministry said. So far, China has sent 3.2 million individuals overseas under labour service contracts and earned $30.8 billion.