BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The number of China's listed private enterprises reached 2,498 by the end of October this year, accounting for 75 percent of all public-traded firms, the 21st Century Business Herald reported Wednesday.

Between 2016 and October 2018, a total of 621 private enterprises launched initial public offerings, raising over 310 billion yuan (about 45 billion U.S. dollars), according to the report, which cited Yan Qingmin, vice chairman of China Securities Regulatory Commission.

"The figures point to continuous growth and prosperity in China's private sector," Yan said at a financial forum.

By the end of October, China had the world's fourth largest number of listed firms, 3,573, which total market capitalization of 44.65 trillion yuan, the second largest in the world, according to Yan.