The country's outbound direct investment (ODI) in non-financial sectors grew 28.6 percent in 2012, accelerating from a year earlier, said the Ministry of Commerce on January 16.

The annual growth rate was higher than the 1.8-percent rate recorded in 2011.

China invested a total of $77.22 billion in 4,425 overseas enterprises in 141 overseas countries and regions in 2012.

But foreign direct investment in China in 2012 declined 3.7 percent to $111.72 billion, according to the ministry.