Global investment by Chinese companies will grow rapidly "for quite a long time", Chen Jian, vice-minister of commerce, said on Monday.

At the same time, he said, Chinese companies need to standardize and improve their operations overseas.

"Chinese enterprises have been seizing the opportunity of investing abroad since the financial crisis erupted (in 2008)," Chen, also a member of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said at the sidelines of the annual session of the top advisory body.