BEIJING - China's outbound investment was generally stable during the first three quarters of the year, although the raging COVID-19 pandemic and other factors dampened cross-border investment globally, the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday.

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Chinese companies hiked investment in countries along the Belt and Road during the period, with non-financial direct investment surging 29.7 percent year-on-year to reach US$13.02 billion, Gao Feng, spokesperson for the ministry, told a press briefing.