China’s continued fight against poverty will give priority to
minority areas, old revolutionary bases, border areas and more
impoverished areas in central and
western
China, according to Gao Hongbin, director-general of the State
Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development
under the
Ministry of
Agriculture .
Meanwhile, provincial governments in the more developed eastern
region of China will be expected to take on the work of alleviating
poverty in their poorer areas, Gao told a press conference in
Beijing on Tuesday.
In
November, Gao announced that China had accomplished its goal of
eliminating “absolute poverty,” a level defined as an annual income
of less than 635 yuan (about $77) by year 2000. The goal was set in
1994, when China’s absolute poverty level was at 80 million and the
state launched a “seven-year poverty alleviation plan.”
Tuesday, Gao spoke of future goals including long-term commitments
to local economy, intensified rural development, ecological
awareness, development of science and technology, education,
culture and health – all to facilitate social progress in poor
areas and to encourage those areas to keep pace with overall
development in China.
(China.org.cn by Guo Xiaohong 06/20/2001)