China's outbound direct investment dropped precipitously in January in offshore property development and in cultural, sports and entertainment businesses, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

The country's ODI in the two categories plunged 84 percent and 93 percent, respectively, in January, ministry figures showed.

But the drops should not be seen as a reversal for the nation's Going Global strategy, according to a ministry official. They were due in part to statistical and seasonal factors and a government decision to readjust the nation's ODI direction to focus on the real economy and emerging industries, according to government officials and academic experts.