Aerial photo taken on May 16, 2021 shows an overview of the first berth of Lamu Port in Kenya. Lamu Port, which is being built by China Communications Construction Company, is part of Kenya's bid to become the major trade hub in East Africa. (Photo by Cui Weibao/Xinhua)

BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- 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 Thursday.

In U.S. 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 U.S. dollars.

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 U.S. dollars. ■