China has consolidated poverty alleviation achievements and will continue striving for rural development to meet farmers' aspirations for a better life, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Han Jun said in Beijing on Monday.
Speaking at a group interview during the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), Han highlighted the achievements in consolidating poverty alleviation efforts over the past five years.
"Over the past five years, we have made remarkable achievements in consolidating the gains of poverty alleviation, and the tasks set for the transition period have been successfully completed. During this period, we helped a total of seven million people in danger of falling back into poverty to steadily eliminate such risks. The per capita disposable income of farmers in the 832 counties that had been lifted out of poverty increased by an average of 8.2 percent annually, 0.8 percentage points higher than the national average growth rate for farmers. Over the past five years, the income gap between urban and rural residents has steadily narrowed, and the level of integrated urban-rural development has continued to improve," said the minister.
Han noted the challenges ahead and outlined the focus for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).
"Overall, our agricultural and rural modernization still lags behind relatively. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we will respond to farmers' aspirations for a better life, pool various strengths and resources. This year marks the first year after the transition period in which support shifts to a normalized assistance mechanism. The Party Central Committee has already made comprehensive arrangements to establish a coordinated, routinized mechanism to prevent people from falling back into poverty. Our agricultural and rural work departments will do things solidly one by one," he said.
China committed to consolidating poverty allegation achievements: minister
