China's outbound investments will soon exceed inward foreign direct investment, as its companies seek opportunities in mature markets and developing ones on new trading routes, a senior official said on Friday.

Zhong Shan, China's international trade representative and vice-minister of commerce, said the country's outward investment should continue to grow faster than its utilization of foreign investment, which will make it a net investor.

China's nonfinancial outward direct investment reached $102.9 billion last year, up 14.1 percent from a year earlier. It was the first time China had cracked the $100 billion mark, maintaining its position as the third-largest global outbound investor, according to the State Council.