BEIJING - China is encouraging more private businesses to join its ambitious poverty reduction campaign, pledging tax breaks and financial support.

During his inspection tour in Central China's Hubei province, Vice Premier Wang Yang on Thursday asked local governments to roll out more favorable measures to support companies that help with poverty relief in poor villages.

The government should respect companies' autonomy and provide necessary skill training for farmers, Wang said.

The central government initiated the "businesses-help-villages" program last year. So far, more than 22,000 companies have paired with around 21,000 villages, investing in projects and creating jobs.

"The program is a major move in the battle against poverty and also a significant means to help private firms expand their development space," Wang said.

Having vowed to eliminate poverty by 2020, China is making all-out efforts to meet the goal, including job creation and relocation of poor people. There are still tens of millions of Chinese living under the national poverty line.