BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- China is expected to introduce its first regulation on overseas investment this year.

The regulation, initiated by the Ministry of Commerce and National Development and Reform Commission, will provide guidance on investment in other countries and regions, while identifying the industries that the government will encourage or ban.

As the first regulation on overseas investment, it will integrate existing rules and define overseas investments, approval procedures, financing, profit sharing and tax policies.

Investments that bring good social and economic benefits and conform to the Belt and Road Initiative will be encouraged, while blind and irrational investments will be discouraged and strictly regulated.

The regulation will punish investors who violate domestic and foreign law.

China's non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) in 2016 soared 44.1 percent year on year to 170 billion U.S. dollars, according to official data.