BEIJING — Over 88,000 private enterprises in China have contributed more than 13.9 billion yuan ($1.99 billion) of social investment towards targeted poverty reduction and alleviation.

The figures were announced on Oct 14 in Beijing at a forum on the nationwide targeted poverty alleviation action.

By the end of June, these companies have also created 661,500 jobs and had 941,000 people trained through investing more than 75.4 billion yuan in industrial sectors, according to the forum.

Since October 2015, China's private companies have been encouraged to join in poverty alleviation efforts through assisting poor villages and households.