Commentary: China a step closer towards eradicating poverty
Xinhua, March 28, 2017 Adjust font size:
China is a step closer towards its goal of eradicating poverty by 2020 as on Monday, Henan Province announced that Lankao County was removed from the country's list of impoverished counties.
The county, which had been poor throughout history and suffered from frequent floods and sandstorms for centuries, is known widely for its poverty.
China has set a goal to eradicate poverty by 2020. Lankao County's success in eliminating poverty is new proof of China's strong capability in leading the whole nation towards prosperity.
The county's GDP last year was 25.76 billion yuan, with annual growth of 9.4 percent.
Precision has been key in the country's anti-poverty war: spending money exactly where it is most needed so the people in need will get the greatest benefits.
Lankao made 12 policies targeting different poor households, successfully improving people's income and economic strength, as well as city construction and public services.
Policy implementation is also important. Cadres at all levels are ordered to put people at the center of their work.
The hard part of the war lies in solving the root causes of poverty. The country has adopted numerous reform measures in this regard, covering education, health care, finance, public services and innovation.
In Lankao, elite cadres were hired, strict supervision was exercised, and financial reform was carried out in poverty relief.
As of late February, there were 831 impoverished county-level regions across China, which are expected to eliminate poverty in the next four years.
According to official figures, China has lifted 700 million people out of poverty in about 30 years.
China will continue the fight, and its experience may inspire the world to work together to conquer poverty. Endi