BEIJING - China's SOE watchdog said Wednesday that a majority of its centrally-administered state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have built and improved their own websites in a bid to promote "soft power."

Of the country's 117 central SOEs, 116 had set up their own websites by December last year, said a statement posted on the website of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC).

After being assessed by the SASAC, 82 websites, including that of the State Grid Corporation, received "A" ratings, according to the statement.

However, the statement did not provide specific evaluation standards.

The SASAC said the websites are gradually transforming from simple propaganda venues to business-oriented platforms. It has urged the firms to actively explore website models to help them create websites that better serve their companies.