BEIJING - China's non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) rose 2.3 percent year on year in the first five months this year, official data showed Thursday.

Total non-financial ODI of the country amounted to $61.6 billion during the period, according to the data released by the Ministry of Commerce.

During the first five months, China's non-financial ODI in countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) reached $15.52 billion, a 20.8-percent increase compared to the same period in the previous year.

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During the period, the turnover of contracted overseas projects by Chinese companies amounted to $61.94 billion, an increase of 5.4 percent year on year, and the value of newly signed contracts rose 13 percent year on year to $98.68 billion, the ministry's spokesperson He Yadong said at a press conference.

The turnover of contracted overseas projects by Chinese companies in BRI partner countries rose 3.9 percent year on year in the first five months to $50.59 billion, He added.