URUMQI, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Xinjiang has received a total investment of nearly 120 billion yuan (about 16.8 billion U.S. dollars) since the launch of a new round of pairing assistance program in 2010, according to the local development and reform commission Thursday.

The assistance program has involved central and state organs, centrally-administered state-owned enterprises, and 19 provinces and municipalities.

Over 12,000 industrial cooperation projects were launched, and newly-built and renovated public facilities in areas including health and clean drinking water have benefited more than 10 million locals.

Meanwhile, more than 2.34 million houses and 1,700 schools were built or renovated over the past nine years.