| Variable | Operational Definition or Proxy Variable | Data source | |
| Explained variables | Location Choice | ODI: The stock amount of China’s ODI in host countries | 2010 Statistical Bulletin of China’s Outward Foreign Direct Investment |
| Control variables (CV) | Exchange Rate | Exch: The host-country’s official annual average exchange rate against RMB | World Bank Development Indicator |
| Attitude on ODI | Op: Openness to ODI | UNCTAD ODI database | |
| Geographic Distance | Dis: The geographic distance between the host and home countries | http://www.cepii.fr/welcome.asp | |
| Infrastructure Construction | Mob: The number of fixed-telephones in the host-country | World Bank Development Indicator | |
| Economic Risk | Inf: The host-country’s inflation rate | World Economic Outlook Database | |
| Cluster | Reg: Dummy variable | World Economic Outlook Database | |
| Explanatory variables Resources factors (Types of motivationMOT for short) | ResourceSeeking Motivation | Ore: the ratio of the host country’s ore and metal exports to its merchandise exports | World Bank Development Indicator |
| Strategic Asset Motivation | Pat: The host country’s total (resident plus non-resident) annual patent registrations | World Bank Development Indicator | |
| Market Seeking Motivation | Gdp: The host-country’s GDP | World Bank Development Indicator | |
| Moderating variables Institutional factors | Political Risk | Pr: The host country’s political risk indicator | International Country Risk Guide (ICRG) |
| Institutional Distance | Id: The institutional distance between the host and home countries | World Bank Development Indicator |