The latest data from the Ministry of Commerce sends a strong signal: In the first quarter of 2025, my country's outward direct investment in all industries ushered in a "good start", with a cumulative investment of US$40.9 billion from January to March, a year-on-year increase of 6.2%, demonstrating the steady pace of Chinese companies' "going out". Among them, non-financial direct investment reached US$35.68 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4.4%, and investment in countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative was particularly outstanding, with an investment of US$8.87 billion surging 15.6% year-on-year, far exceeding the overall level, proving that cooperation along the route is becoming a new hot spot for investment.

There are also bright spots in the field of foreign contracting projects: the first quarter achieved a turnover of US$34.18 billion, a year-on-year increase of 5.5%; the newly signed contract amount achieved a breakthrough growth, with a report card of US$58.67 billion soaring 26% year-on-year, demonstrating the strong demand for Chinese engineering services in the international market. Focusing on countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, the turnover was US$27.52 billion (+4.1%), and the newly signed contract amount was US$47.14 billion (+16.3%), continuing to lay a solid foundation for cooperation with high-quality project construction.

Behind the data is a vivid practice of mutual benefit and win-win between China and the countries along the route - from the rise in investment scale against the trend to the increase in both quantity and quality of engineering cooperation, the data related to the Belt and Road Initiative in the first quarter led the way in all aspects, not only injecting stabilizers into the global economy, but also outlining a clear picture of opening up in the new era. (This article is from the official website of Seetao www.seetao.com. Reprinting without permission is prohibited, otherwise it will be investigated. Please indicate Seetao.com + original link for reprinting) Seetao.com Strategy Column Editor/Wan Ting