China's outbound direct investment or ODI surged nearly 22 percent year-on-year to 68.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2010 - growing for a ninth straight year and recording an average annual growth rate of almost 50 percent. That's according to the nation's commerce ministry.

China's 2010 ODI accounted for 5.2 percent of global capital flows and exceeded the ODI of both Japan and the United Kingdom for the first time to become the fifth largest in the world. Non-financial ODI climbed to over 60 billion U.S. dollars last year, while the country's overseas investment in financial sectors rose to 8.63 billion dollars.

Analysts expect China's overseas investment continue to rise in coming years, especially with the nation keen to buy modern technology and world renowned brands to bolster its standing in the corporate world.

Source:Li Wanran