China's centrally administered state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have invested almost 100 billion yuan (about 14.85 billion U.S. dollars) to help lift 221 poor counties out of poverty since 2016, according to the country's top state asset watchdog.

Central SOEs have been increasing infrastructure investment in poverty-stricken areas to help solve livelihood problems, said Hao Peng, chief of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.

"This demonstrates that central SOEs are taking a leading role in fulfilling their corporate social responsibility," Hao said.

China, as the world's second-largest economy, aims to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society by the end of the year.