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China willcontinue to work vigorously to reduce poverty and lift no less than 10 millionpeople out of poverty in 2019, to lay a solid foundation for winning the battleagainst poverty, the State Council’s executive meeting chaired by PremierLiKeqiangdecided on Feb 11.

The year2018 saw China launch its three-year action plan in fighting the battle againstpoverty. In his inspection tours in Guangdong and Sichuan provinces, PresidentXiJinpingchaired meetings on targeted povertyalleviation and set out requirements for poverty relief work in the next threeyears. Premier LiKeqiangvowed to reduce the poorpopulation by 10 million each year in all his government work reports over thepast five years. He gave specific instructions on ways to push forward thiswork and to better manage the poverty alleviation funds.

According tothe progress update at the meeting, 13.86 million people were lifted out ofpoverty in 2018, thanks to the dedicated efforts by local authorities anddepartments in implementing the decisions made by the CPC Central Committee andthe State Council.Figures from the State Council LeadingGroup Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development show that the new approachof poverty relief, developing emerging industries in poor areas such ase-commerce,photovoltaicsand country tourism, haspaid off.Infrastructure development in poor areas has been accelerated.Some 208,000 kilometers of rural roads were built or renovated in 2018. Newprogress was made in upgrading the power grid in poor areas. And 94 percent ofthe poor villages are now covered by broadband internet services.

“Wemust strive to meet the poverty alleviation target for this year. Makingpoverty history by 2020 is the solemn commitment our Party and government havemade to the people. We must fulfill this commitment by ensuring full deliveryof all related policies and consolidating the progress we have made,”Premier Li said.

It wasdecided at the meeting that efforts will be intensified this year to helpextremely poor areas. Increase in the poverty alleviation fund under thecentral government budget will be mainly channeled to these areas. Projectsunder the 13th Five-Year Plan that help enhance the weak links in poor areaswill be prioritized. The meeting urged to stick to current standards, andcross-regional pairing arrangements for poverty alleviation will be enhanced.The difficulties poor people face in meeting the five essential needs of food,clothing, compulsory education, basic healthcare and a place to live will betackled down to every household.

Countiesthat have emerged from poverty and their populations shall remain eligible forrelated policy incentives by 2020, the final-stage in fighting poverty. Recordsof people who fall back into poverty and the newly discovered poor will bepromptly established to provide support.

“Wemust strictly enforce the poverty criteria involving the five essential needsof food, clothing, compulsory education, basic healthcare and a place tolive,” Premier Li said. “Every penny of the poverty alleviationfunds must be used effectively and transparently.”

SOURCE:https://appen.media.gov.cn/engovdata/goven/201902/11/454282/article.html