Non-financial ODI up 2.3 pct in first five months

China's non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) rose 2.3 percent year on year in the first five months this year, according to the data released by the Ministry of Commerce on Thursday.

"In the first five months of this year, China's non-financial ODI amounted to 61.6 billion U.S. dollars, up 2.3 percent year on year. Its non-financial ODI in countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) reached 15.52 billion U.S. dollars, a 20.8-percent increase," said Ministry spokesman He Yadong at a press conference in Beijing.

"From January to May, the turnover of contracted overseas projects by Chinese companies amounted to 61.94 billion U.S. dollars, up 5.4 percent year on year, and the value of newly signed contracts rose 13 percent to 98.68 billion U.S. dollars. The turnover of contracted overseas projects by Chinese companies in BRI partner countries rose 3.9 percent to 50.59 billion U.S. dollars, while newly signed contracts amounted to 84.93 billion U.S. dollars, up 20.7 percent," he said.

Non-financial ODI up 2.3 pct in first five months

Non-financial ODI up 2.3 pct in first five months

President Vladimir Putin said at a briefing on Saturday that Russian forces had taken control of Hulyaipole, the second largest city in southeast Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region.

According to the briefing, Russian troops also controlled Stepnohirsk in the Zaporizhzhia region and captured Dimitrov (known as Myrnohrad in Ukraine), Rodynske, and Artyomovka in the Donetsk region.

Putin said the takeover of Hulyaipole creates favorable conditions for Russian forces to continue their advance deeper into the Zaporizhzhia region while the capture of Dimitrov was a significant step towards the full seizure of the entire Donetsk region.

The Russian president said the Russian army is fully capable of resolving the issue militarily.

He also said that Russia is trying to end the conflict, but Ukraine is not in a hurry to resolve the conflict peacefully although the West has advised Ukraine to accept a solution.

Ukraine has not yet responded to Russia's statement.

Hulyaipole is located in a strategically important area in southeastern Ukraine, 98 kilometers from the regional capital, Zaporizhzhia.

Russia claims control of Zaporizhzhia's second largest city