BEIJING — Public donations topped 75.5 billion yuan (more than $11.1 billion) in China in 2017, said the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA).

The figure was announced by the MCA at a meeting on working experience exchanges between charities.

China had 4,774 registered charities, among which 1,293 were qualified to raise funds from the public, as of Sept 5, said the ministry, adding that 206 foundations registered with the MCA had offered over 4.8 billion yuan of financial aid to poverty-stricken areas and people in 2016 and 2017.

China’s Charity Law took effect on Sept 1, 2016, requiring all online charity fundraising to be conducted through government-approved internet platforms. The first group of 11 online charity platforms approved by the MCA received donations of 980 million yuan in the first half of 2018.