A high-level forum was held Saturday to discuss poverty reduction efforts against the backdrop of global financial crisis, marking the world's 17th International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu said at the forum the international financial crisis has imposed great challenges to the global poverty reduction work and the progress of the UN Millennium Development Goal.

He called for the international community to coordinate efforts in dealing with the poverty issue.

"The Chinese government would strive to maintain steady and relatively fast economic growth, stick to its development-based policy to help the poor and increase spending on rural and agricultural development," Hui said, adding "this would contribute to the global cause of poverty reduction."

Hui said China has carried out a proactive fiscal and moderately easy monetary policy in facing the crisis and implemented measures which have so far proved effective as the economy has shown a positive trend for recovery.

The country has given more emphasis to stimulate domestic consumption while stabling prices of agricultural produce, increasing farmers' income, and prioritizing employment for the migrant workers from rural areas, Hui said.

But the vice premier cautioned even though China had made great achievements in dealing with the crisis and poverty alleviation work, it remains a country of low per capita income and unbalanced regional, urban and rural development.

"The impact by the crisis to the poverty alleviation work remains. The task for poverty alleviation and development is very heavy, and requires unyielding efforts," Hui said.

The forum was jointly held by the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development and the United Nations System in China.

(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2009)