BEIJING, Feb. 22 -- Financial institutions in China accelerated their direct investment overseas, according to the country's foreign exchange regulator on Monday.

Financial institutions in China reported a net outflow of investment of 11.855 billion U.S. dollars, while net inflow of overseas investment stood at 8.106 billion U.S.dollars in 2015, according to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

By the end of 2015, financial institutions in China had received 128.45 billion U.S.dollars from overseas investors while investing a total of 171.189 billion U.S.dollars overseas.

Chinese banks, insurance companies and investment firms have been speeding up their pace in expanding business in overseas markets thanks to more Chinese companies going global and wider use of the Chinese yuan.