URUMQI — Support funds totaling about 16 billion yuan ($2.37 billion) were allocated to Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in 2018, an official said.

The funds, from 19 provinces and cities, were allocated to help locals rise out of poverty and improve their livelihoods, Shohrat Zakir, chairman of the regional government of Xinjiang, said in his government work report.

Last year, authorities with these provinces and cities also helped train talents for Xinjiang, offered jobs to ethnic groups in developed areas and enhanced communication, Shohrat said.

Xinjiang will continue to learn from other provinces and cities and allocate support funds to improve people’s livelihoods and to grassroots areas, he said.