BEIJING — As of June, China had about 285 million internet users living in the rural areas, accounting for over 30 percent of the country's total, according to a recent report on China's internet development.

The number of rural internet users in China has grown by over 30 million from March, said the report issued by the China Internet Network Information Center, noting that the urban-rural digital gap had significantly narrowed.

The report said the internet is playing a greater role in the country's poverty reduction efforts, with the public's participation in and awareness and recognition of relevant campaigns on the rise.

It said that as of June, relevant activities, such as online promotions of agricultural products from impoverished areas, had reached 51.5 percent of Chinese internet users, and more than 34 percent of netizens had bought such products via online platforms.

Internet users said they believe the internet will help with the anti-poverty cause through providing jobs, social security, and medical service information for the poor and enabling the children in poverty-stricken areas to access better education.