The growth of outbound direct investment from China is remaining steady this year, leaving the world's second-largest economy on track to exceed last year's record figure, officials said on Thursday.

Investment in the nonfinancial sector rose to $56 billion in the first half, an increase of 29.2 percent compared with the same period last year, thanks in part to the development of new trade routes and free trade zones.

The country became a net capital exporter last year as the ODI figure of $116 billion exceeded capital inflows for the first time.