The General Office of China's State Council, the Cabinet, and the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee issued a circular recently, calling for more progress in the nation's poverty alleviation work.

Poverty alleviation work that targets old revolutionary base areas, ethnic regions, border areas and poverty-stricken areas has made great progress since it was started 24 years ago, the circular said.

Future tasks are to focus on ensuring adequate food and clothing for people in need and helping them out of poverty via improving their capabilities for development on their own.

It is necessary to continue efforts in reducing poverty through development, and to make great efforts in advancing and enhancing infrastructure construction, improving the capacities to offer basic services, and cultivating key agriculture-based businesses, so as to ensure a comprehensive, coordinating and sustainable growth in developing the economy and society of the targeted poor regions, said the circular.

Party and government departments, state-owned enterprises, key state research institutions, military and armed police forces should participate in the work, while large private enterprises and social organizations, too, are encouraged to devote themselves to the work, the circular said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2010)