China allocated more than 156.6 billion yuan ($25.78 billion) in subsistence allowances for the poor in 2013, Vice Minister of Civil Affairs Dou Yupei said on February 19.

Last year, subsistence allowances for poor urban residents totaled more than 72.4 billion yuan ($11.92 billion), up 13.9 percent year on year, and those for poor people in rural areas added up to 84.2 billion yuan ($13.86 billion), with an annual increase of 17.3 percent, Dou revealed at a press conference.

"A total of 79.8 million people are receiving government assistance on a regular basis, with 174 billion yuan ($28.64 billion) spent on them in 2013," said Dou, adding that some 100 million medical grants were also issued.

According to the vice minister, the Chinese Government also allocated disaster-relief funding of more than 10.6 billion yuan ($1.74 billion) last year, with 12 million people being relocated from areas hit by earthquakes or floods.

Since China issued guidelines for bringing more security to orphans in 2010, the country has given a monthly allowance of 1,000 yuan ($165) to each child living in orphanages and 600 yuan ($99) to each of those in foster homes, Dou noted.