BEIJING -- The balance of on-lending loans for smaller banks issued by the Export-Import Bank of China (China EximBank) hit 140 billion yuan ($19.72 billion) at the end of August, data shows.

The figure increased 15 percent from the beginning of the year, the bank said.

It has been pooling efforts to boost inclusive finance. By the end of August, the bank had waived 451 million yuan worth of loan interest payments for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises affected by the COVID-19.

China EximBank is a state-funded and state-owned policy bank supporting China's foreign trade, investment and international economic cooperation.