BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) said Wednesday it received donations worth 196 million yuan in 2006, 7.7 percent more than a year earlier.

CFPA used 175 million yuan worth of funds and goods, up 30 percent on 2005, to help relieve 533,600 poor people in 279 counties, said He Daofeng, executive vice president of CFPA.

The donations from firms and individuals at home and abroad also benefited destitute college students at 452 universities, He said.

Several institutions including China Construction Bank were recognized by the foundation for their significant contributions to China's anti-poverty campaign.

CFPA is a major non-governmental poverty reduction organization in China.

China Development Bank (CDB) agreed last year to donate 100 million yuan (12.8 million U.S. dollars) worth of loans to a CFPA micro-credit scheme in China's rural areas.

The CFPA has already established micro-credit branches in 10 poverty-stricken counties in seven provinces and provided 150 million yuan of loans. Over 330,000 farmers have benefited since 1996.