BEIJING, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Charity foundations donated about 3.15 billion yuan (478.4 million U.S. dollars) for poverty relief from 2016 to June 2017, said the Ministry of Civil Affairs Thursday.

Of 206 foundations registered at the ministry, 97 foundations sponsored or engaged in 547 poverty relief projects, covering education, healthcare, industrial development, infrastructure and emergency assistance, said the ministry statement.

About half of the funds went to the education sector, including improvement of school facilities, elementary schooling, vocational education, and assistance to children from needy families and rural children left behind by their migrant worker parents to the care of grandparents or relatives, according to the ministry.

About 666 million yuan went to healthcare services and 129 million yuan to those suffering immediate losses in emergencies and natural disasters.

China aims to lift all people above the poverty line, defined as per capita annual income of 2,300 yuan (about 350 dollars), in rural areas by 2020.