BEIJING — China saw a total of 252 new public-private partnership (PPP) projects registered in the first four months of the year, with 102 added in April alone, according to the country's top economic planning body.

The lion's share of the PPP projects was related to urban infrastructure, with the tally reaching 85, data from the National Development and Reform Commission showed.

By far, a total of 7,137 PPP projects have been registered in a national data bank.

PPPs are a collaborative investment model between government and private companies.

Chinese authorities have been exploring funding infrastructure and public works through PPP models since late 2013, aiming to reduce local government debts and bring new opportunities for private capital.