BEIJING, Dec. 23 -- China invested about 768.7 billion yuan (around 118.7 billion U.S. dollars) in its less-developed western regions in 2015, the country's top economic planner announced Wednesday.

A total of 30 major projects began this year in west China, according to a statement by the National Development and Reform Commission.

The projects were mainly infrastructure, such as railways, highways, water projects and energy projects.

From 2000 to 2015, around 5.6 trillion yuan has been channeled to 270 key projects in developing the west, the statement said.

China launched its "go west" strategy in 2000 to boost economic development of its 12 provincial-level regions, namely Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Tibet, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Guangxi and Qinghai.

Under the strategy, the western regions enjoy support in infrastructure construction, foreign investment, ecological protection, education and talent retention.