BEIJING -- China's central government has dispensed all its planned 2018 poverty alleviation funds to local governments, two months earlier than last year.

The poverty alleviation fund stands at 106 billion yuan ($16.7 billion) this year, 20 billion yuan more than last year.

The additional 20 billion yuan will be used to support areas of extreme poverty.

The Ministry of Finance urged local governments to help the country's 832 poorest counties and districts to make full use of the money.

China aims to lift another 10 million rural people out of poverty in 2018.