China’s outbound direct investment (ODI) totaled CNY961.9 billion in the January to October period, up 53.3% from a year earlier, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said. The growth rate was in line with the January to September figure, when CNY882.8 billion was invested in 160 foreign countries and overseas regions. Investment in the U.S. surged 173.9% in the first 10 months of the year, the strongest year-on-year increase for China’s non-financial overseas investment. Companies in the Yangtze River Delta contributed 35.3% of the total, nearly double their share a year ago, Ministry Spokesman Sun Jiwen said. In the same period, foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Chinese mainland rose 4.2% year-on-year to reach CNY666.3 billion. The service sector, which accounted for 70.7% of total investment, saw a year-on-year increase of 9.1%. The Ministry said its figures did not include investments made in the banking, insurance and securities industries. China’s overseas investment surpassed incoming investment this year for the first time since records began in late 2008, as Chinese companies conducted more mergers and acquisitions (M&As) overseas. The gap between accumulative outbound and inbound investments widened from CNY50.8 billion in February to CNY295.6 billion last month. Sun said there was no change in China’s policy toward foreign investors. “The country will keep its stance to protect their legitimate interests, and provide better services and easier access for those who want to invest in China,” the Shanghai Daily reports.