China has made significant progress in consolidating and expanding its poverty alleviation achievements since declaring a "complete victory" in the fight against rural poverty in 2020, said Han Jun, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, on Saturday.
Speaking at a group interview on the sidelines of the ongoing third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) -- China's national legislature -- in Beijing, Han expounded on the country's efforts to sustain poverty reduction gains and prevent any large-scale relapse of people into poverty.
After winning the battle against poverty in 2020, the central government designated 2021-2025 as the five-year transition period to consolidate and expand these accomplishments. As 2025 marks the final year of this period, Han said the country has seen significant reduction in poverty relapse risks, as well as rapid income growth and strengthened basic livelihood guarantees in formerly poverty-stricken areas.
"The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has established a specialized big data platform dedicated to the work of preventing people from slipping back into poverty. It enables real-time monitoring of each registered household's situation. Once any risk is detected, various targeted assistance measures will be activated immediately to eliminate the risk. These measures will continue until the household concerned meets the exit criteria, at which point they are removed from the platform. With a set of strict procedures in place, the risk of poverty relapse has been significantly reduced," he said.
In addition, flourishing local industries have created more jobs and income-earning opportunities, making villagers better off.
"Over the past four years, the per capita disposable income of farmers in regions that have been removed from the list of poverty-stricken regions has grown at a rate higher than the national average for rural areas. All 832 formerly impoverished counties have developed distinctive pillar industries with significant advantages and knock-on effects during the period. The number of employed individuals from registered poor households has remained above 30 million for the past four years. Farmers now have more channels to increase their income, and the development momentum in these regions is strengthening," said the minister.
Efforts have also been made to promote good health and well-being in formerly impoverished areas.
"The achievements in ensuring compulsory education, basic healthcare, housing security and access to clean drinking water have been firmly consolidated. China's great success in poverty alleviation has stood the test of history and practice. It has also garnered widespread praise from the international community. It's indeed a remarkable feat," Han said.
China’s poverty alleviation achievements effectively consolidated: minister
China’s poverty alleviation achievements effectively consolidated: minister
