The overseas direct investment from Chinese enterprises surpassed US$50 billion by the end of 2005, according to the latest statistics released by China's Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday.

From 2002 to 2005, Chinese enterprises invested some US$17.9 billion overseas, up 36 percent annually on average. By the end of 2005, China's overseas contract volume surpassed US$181.1 billion.

China's overseas investment, project contract and labor cooperation appeared in nearly 200 nations and regions, and were involved in manufacturing, construction, transportation, electric communication and agriculture.

Multinational merging also became an important method of China's direct foreign investment. Research and development centers, as well as industrial centers emerged overseas.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2006)