This file photo shows cargo containers packing at Yangshan port in Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING —Foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Chinese mainland, in actual use, expanded by 7.5 percent year-on-year to 68.63 billion yuan in May, said Gao Feng, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, at a press conference on Thursday.

In US dollar terms, the FDI inflow stood at 9.87 billion dollars, up by 4.2 percent year-on-year.

From January to May, the the country's FDI totaled 355.18 billion yuan, down 3.8 percent year-on-year, narrowing by 7 percentage points compared to the first quarter of the year.

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During the period, the inflow to high-tech industries rose by 2 percent, with the information and e-commerce services sector up 42.3 percent and 67.9 percent, respectively.

Investment from members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations increased 10.1 percent year-on-year, while that from countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative rose 6 percent.

The country has rolled out a string of policies to better invigorate and protect foreign investors, which advanced the growth of the FDI, the ministry said earlier.

READ MORE: China's non-financial ODI down 7.7% in Jan

ODI dips

China's non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) edged down by 1.6 percent year-on-year in the first five months of the year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

The ODI in 157 countries and regions stood at 296.27 billion yuan (about US$42.2 billion) during the period, said the spokesperson.