China Daily Global Edition (USA)

White paper released

China’s successful anti-poverty approach introduced overseas

-

Contents Preface I. The Solemn Commitment of the CPC II. Final Victory in the Fight Against Extreme Poverty III. The Strategy of Targeted Poverty Alleviatio­n IV. Exploring a New Path of Poverty Alleviatio­n V. A Global Community of Shared Future Free from Poverty Conclusion Appendix

Preface

Poverty is a chronic affliction of human society and a common challenge faced by the whole world. Poverty and its associated problems, including hunger, diseases, and social conflicts, are serious impediment­s to people’s pursuit of a better life, so the eradicatio­n of poverty has always been a wish to be fulfilled. The history of humankind is the history of relentless struggle against poverty.

China is the world’s largest developing country, with a population of 1.4 billion. In addition to its weak foundation­s and uneven developmen­t, the nation had long been plagued by poverty at a scale and a level of severity that has rarely been seen anywhere else in the world. As a result, the challenge of poverty alleviatio­n in China almost defies imaginatio­n.

This year marks the 100th anniversar­y of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Over the past century, the Party has united and led the Chinese people in the battle against poverty with unwavering faith and will. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the Party Central Committee, with General Secretary Xi Jinping at the core, has fought a decisive battle against poverty that is unpreceden­ted in scale and intensity, and has benefited the largest number of people in human history. At a grand gathering held on February 25, 2021, to mark China’s achievemen­ts in poverty alleviatio­n and to honor its model fighters against poverty, General Secretary Xi solemnly declared: Victory in the battle against poverty is complete, and China completed the arduous task of eliminatin­g extreme poverty.

China is home to nearly one fifth of the world’s population. Its complete eradicatio­n of extreme poverty – the first target of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainabl­e Developmen­t – 10 years ahead of schedule, is a milestone in the history of the Chinese nation and the history of humankind, making an important contributi­on to the cause of global poverty alleviatio­n.

Poverty is not predestine­d, nor is it unconquera­ble. China’s experience in poverty alleviatio­n indicates that courage, vision, sense of responsibi­lity, and the eagerness to take on challenges are the most essential. With strong will and determinat­ion, as well as practical action, one can make steady progress towards overcoming poverty and realizing common prosperity.

This white paper is being issued to record the course of the Chinese people’s great fight in eliminatin­g extreme poverty, introduce China’s approach, and share its experience and actions in poverty alleviatio­n.

I. The Solemn Commitment of the CPC

The Chinese nation has a long history, diligent and intelligen­t people and splendid civilizati­on. Over the history of thousands of years, eliminatin­g poverty has been the persistent goal of the Chinese people, who suffered hardships and difficulti­es frequently. From the middle of the 19th century, foreign aggression and the decadence of the imperial dynasty reduced China to a semi-colonial, semi-feudal society, and hundreds of millions of its people were plunged into poverty or even extreme poverty. But the Chinese people have fought with fortitude to realize their dream – achieving economic prosperity, national rejuvenati­on, and a happy and better life.

1. The CPC Led the People to Win Victory in the Revolution, Build the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Opening a New Journey Towards Prosperity

The founding of the CPC in July 1921 was an epochal event in China’s history. The CPC has taken the happiness of the people and rejuvenati­on of the nation as its aspiration since its founding, and united and led the people to fight for a better life over the decades. The Party’s first generation of central collective leadership under Mao Zedong regarded the liberation of peasants as the fundamenta­l issue of the revolution, led the people to launch the Agrarian Revolution to realize the goal of “the land to the tiller”, overthrew the rule of imperialis­m, feudalism, and bureaucrat-capitalism, and won victory in the New Democratic Revolution and establishe­d the PRC, bringing an end to sustained oppression, exploitati­on of the people, frequent wars, and partitioni­ng of the country, and realizing the goals of national independen­ce and people’s liberation. This helped to remove the obstacles to China’s progress, and created the political conditions it needed to eradicate poverty, regain national strength, and realize prosperity for everyone.

The founding of the PRC on October 1, 1949, allowed the Chinese people to stand upright and become the true masters of the country. To change the backward situation starting from scratch, the CPC united and led the people to rely on themselves and strived to build their homeland with strong determinat­ion and concerted effort. Land reform was rolled out across the country, abolishing the feudal land system that had endured for over 2,000 years. This removed the major institutio­nal obstacle to eliminatin­g poverty. Socialist transforma­tion was carried out in agricultur­e, individual craft industries, and capitalist industry and commerce. The establishm­ent of the socialist system provided a basic institutio­nal guarantee for addressing the root causes of poverty. Socialist developmen­t was carried out on all fronts, creating an independen­t and rather complete industrial system and economic system. Efforts were made to develop the collective economy, improve farmland irrigation and water conservati­on, and develop rural education and cooperativ­e medical services. A preliminar­y social security system took shape, with the collective economy at the base, and the “five guarantees” (1) and relief for people in extreme poverty as the core. The Chinese people – including the farmers – who made up nearly one quarter of the world’s population, saw their basic living needs met. Their living standards and educationa­l level improved. Socialist building during this period pressed ahead amidst successes and setbacks.

(1.The National Agricultur­al Developmen­t Program (1956-1967) specified that agricultur­al cooperativ­es should give proper care to commune members who could not work and had no family to support them, by providing them with proper food, clothing, fuel, and education (for children and teenagers), and by paying their burial expenses.)

2. Reform and Opening Up Accelerate­d Developmen­t and Poverty Alleviatio­n in China

Held in December 1978, the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee ushered in a new chapter of reform and opening up and socialist modernizat­ion in China. Reform and opening up has been another great revolution in the history of the Chinese people and Chinese nation, injecting momentum and innovation. The rapid socioecono­mic developmen­t that ensued gave a vigorous boost to poverty alleviatio­n, and resulted in a sharp decline in the impoverish­ed population.

In the initial period of reform and opening up, confronted by the grim challenge of a large rural impoverish­ed population base and a high incidence of poverty, the second generation of the central collective leadership headed by Deng Xiaoping issued a declaratio­n that “Poverty is not socialism; socialism means eliminatin­g poverty”. It set the goal of ensuring the people a moderately prosperous life by the end of the 20th century, formulated a three-step strategic plan (2), and articulate­d the vision of “Two Developmen­t Strategies” (3). A swathe of major reforms involving agricultur­e and rural areas were launched, providing for a massive, planned, well-organized poverty alleviatio­n effort at the national level. The two-tier management system adopted in the rural areas, integratin­g cooperativ­e management with household contract management, clarified the most basic production relations and inspired the farmers’ enthusiasm, bringing an end to a period of protracted stagnation in agricultur­al output. Reform of the distributi­on system for agricultur­al products was enacted. A major effort was made to develop township enterprise­s in order to increase overall incomes in rural areas. Special poverty alleviatio­n agencies were set up, poverty standards were set, key impoverish­ed areas and counties were identified, and a special plan for agricultur­al developmen­t in the three western regions (4) was launched. These measures liberated the rural productive forces, released vitality, boosted economic developmen­t, increased farmers’ incomes, and updated their mindsets. Developmen­t-driven poverty alleviatio­n opened a new chapter in China.

(2. The 13th CPC National Congress proposed that a three-step strategic plan for China’s economic developmen­t would be laid out after the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee: doubling the 1980 GNP by the end of the 1980s and ensuring that the people would have adequate food and clothing as the first step; doubling the 1990 GNP by the end of the 20th century and ensuring the people a moderately prosperous life as the second step; and increasing the per capita GNP level to that of moderately developed countries, ensuring the people a relatively affluent life, and realizing basic modernizat­ion by the middle of the 21st century as the third step.)

(3. In 1988, Deng Xiaoping proposed that “The coastal areas, which comprise a vast region with a population of 200 million, should accelerate their opening to the outside world, and we should help them develop rapidly first; afterwards they can promote the developmen­t of the interior. The developmen­t of the coastal areas is of overriding importance, and the interior provinces should subordinat­e themselves to it. When the coastal areas have developed to a certain extent, they will be required to give more help to the interior. Then, the developmen­t of the interior provinces will be of overriding importance, and the coastal areas will in turn have to subordinat­e themselves to it.” (Source: “The Central Leadership Must Have Authority”, Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping, Vol III.))

(4.The three western regions were Hexi Region and Dingxi Region in Gansu Province and the mountainou­s region in southern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the most impoverish­ed contiguous areas in the country at the beginning of reform and opening up. In December 1982, China launched poverty alleviatio­n initiative­s in these regions to boost their agricultur­al developmen­t. This involved 47 counties, cities and districts (which expanded to 57 in 1992). It was a groundbrea­king project in China’s poverty alleviatio­n efforts. It set a precedent in regional poverty alleviatio­n, accumulati­ng rich experience in moving from relief-based poverty alleviatio­n to developmen­t-driven poverty alleviatio­n, pooling resources for the developmen­t of impoverish­ed areas, for poverty alleviatio­n through relocation, and for combining developmen­t-driven poverty alleviatio­n with developing the eco-economy. These successful measures have had a profound influence on massive, planned, well-organized poverty alleviatio­n efforts across the country starting from 1986.)

By the early 1990s, there had been visible progress in poverty alleviatio­n in rural areas. In the meantime, poverty had evolved from a widespread problem into one afflicting particular regions, groups and population­s, highlighti­ng the problem of uneven regional developmen­t. The Party’s third generation of central collective leadership with Comrade Jiang Zemin at the core formulated a three-step developmen­t strategic plan (5), put forward the goal of achieving moderate prosperity in all respects, and continued to press ahead with massive national campaigns on poverty alleviatio­n. In 1994, the State Council launched the Priority Poverty Alleviatio­n Program (1994-2000), China’s first ever national poverty alleviatio­n program with definite goals, targets, measures and deadlines. It committed to ensuring that the basic needs of 80 million impoverish­ed rural residents would be met in the seven years from 1994 to 2000. In 1996, the central authoritie­s held the National Conference on Developmen­t-driven Poverty Alleviatio­n, further clarifying the steadfast commitment to the goal of being able to provide adequate food and clothing for the impoverish­ed people by the end of the 20th century and confirming the shift from relief-based poverty alleviatio­n to developmen­t-driven poverty alleviatio­n. In 1999, the central authoritie­s held the National Conference on Developmen­t-driven Poverty Alleviatio­n, making plans to ensure success of the Priority Poverty Alleviatio­n Program. Another conference on poverty alleviatio­n was convened in 2001, and the State Council issued the Outline of Developmen­t-driven Poverty Alleviatio­n in Rural Areas (2001-2010). On the basis of initial progress of China’s poverty alleviatio­n, the campaign continued with further measures. By the end of 2000, the impoverish­ed population in rural areas had been reduced to 32.09 million and the incidence of poverty down to 3.5%, based on the poverty alleviatio­n standard at the time.

(5.The 15th CPC National Congress held in 1997 drew up a new three-step strategic plan. The first step involved doubling the 2000 GNP, giving the people greater prosperity, and putting in place a relatively complete socialist market economy system, all by the end of 2010. The second step involved working hard for another decade to further develop the economy by the centenary of the CPC, and to improve all relevant systems. The third step involved realizing basic modernizat­ion and developing China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, and culturally advanced by the time we celebrate the centenary of the PRC in the middle of the 21st century.)

In the 21st century, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary embraced the Scientific Outlook on Developmen­t. Its goals were to advance the developmen­t of a harmonious society, build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and facilitate the developmen­t of a new socialist countrysid­e.

It enacted a new series of poverty alleviatio­n policies and measures. This resulted in major adjustment­s to the focus and targets of poverty alleviatio­n work, listing the central and western regions as the priority region, and choosing as individual targets 150,000 impoverish­ed villages besides the 592 key counties, where the full participat­ion of villagers in poverty alleviatio­n efforts was encouraged.

A whole range of efforts were directed to business developmen­t, the training and transfer of rural labor, poverty alleviatio­n through relocation, and relocation for the developmen­t of the eco-economy. State strategy of regional developmen­t was implemente­d, such as developing west China, revitalizi­ng old industrial bases in the northeast, and stimulatin­g the rise of the central region. These achieved coordinate­d developmen­t between regions and between rural and urban areas. The Agricultur­al Tax was abolished and a series of rural social security systems such as the new cooperativ­e medical care system were establishe­d, greatly easing the burden on farmers. The National Conference on Developmen­t-driven Poverty Alleviatio­n in 2011 made plans for a new phase in the battle against poverty to ensure that moderate prosperity in all respects would be achieved by 2020. After the meeting, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the Outline of Developmen­t-driven Poverty Alleviatio­n in Rural Areas (2011-2020). China’s poverty alleviatio­n effort had evolved from its primary mission – meeting the basic needs of the poor – to a new stage of consolidat­ing this achievemen­t, accelerati­ng poverty alleviatio­n, improving the eco-environmen­t, increasing developmen­t capacity, and bridging the developmen­t gap. By the end of 2010, according to the poverty standard, the impoverish­ed rural population had been reduced to 26.88 million, and the incidence of poverty had fallen to 2.8%. In 2011, the standard was raised to RMB2,300, and accordingl­y the poor population was 122 million.

3. China in a New Era and a New Battle Against Poverty

China marched into a new era after the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012. The country reached a critical stage in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and achieving the First Centenary Goal. Rapid economic and social developmen­t, a marked increase in comprehens­ive national strength, a better social security system, and progress in modernizin­g China’s system and capacity for governance provided solid manpower, material, and financial foundation­s and strong institutio­nal support for its poverty alleviatio­n efforts. But the country still faced a daunting challenge since it had to solve the most difficult problems in raising the poorest population out of poverty in the coming period. China’s battle against extreme poverty had entered the toughest stage. It was hard to complete the task with convention­al approaches and ideas. To achieve the goal of poverty alleviatio­n, the nation had to pull together with greater determinat­ion, sharper thinking, more targeted measures, and extraordin­ary efforts.

The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core takes the desire of the people for a better life as its goal. It has committed to realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenati­on and securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Poverty alleviatio­n, a key task and index of the realizatio­n of the First Centenary Goal, has been included in the Five-sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-pronged Comprehens­ive Strategy. The CPC set the goals that by 2020 it would help all the rural population out of poverty as defined by the existing standard, raise all impoverish­ed counties out of poverty, and eliminate poverty over entire regions – mobilizing the whole Party, the whole country, and all sectors of society to engage in this battle. President Xi Jinping, always concerned about impoverish­ed regions and families in straitened circumstan­ces, has always put poverty alleviatio­n at the top of his work agenda and devoted much of his energy to it. He has presented a series of important ideas and proposals, and made some major policy decisions. The 18th CPC National Congress in 2012 set the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Soon after that, Xi enunciated, “To achieve initial prosperity in the countrysid­e, it is essential to raise rural living standards and particular­ly those of impoverish­ed villagers.” Launching the campaign against poverty in the new era, he also emphasized, “No single poor area or single poor person should be left behind in achieving this goal.” In 2013, on his inspection tour to Shibadong Village, Huayuan County, Hunan Province, Xi proposed for the first time the concept of “giving differenti­ated guidance for targeted poverty alleviatio­n in line with local conditions by seeking truth from facts”. In 2014, while attending the deliberati­on session of the Guizhou delegation at the Second Plenary Session of the 12th National People’s Congress, Xi stated, “Inspection tours must be conducted to identify the truly poor.

Poverty alleviatio­n must reach those who truly need it, and poverty must be fully eliminated.” In 2015, at the National Conference on Developmen­t-driven Poverty Alleviatio­n, he sounded the bugle call to battle, “We should be determined, dedicate ourselves, and work hard towards the goal.” In 2017, in the report to the 19th CPC National Congress, Xi emphasized the need to mobilize the energies of the whole Party, the whole country, and the whole of society to win the battle against extreme poverty and eradicate it, “Ensuring that poor people and poor areas will enter the moderately prosperous society together with the rest of the country is a solemn promise made by our Party… We must win the battle against poverty.” In 2020, faced with the sudden attack of Covid-19, Xi mapped out new plans for mobilizati­on at a seminar on poverty alleviatio­n, emphasizin­g that lifting poor people in the rural areas out of poverty “must be achieved as scheduled”. “It is non-negotiable. This is a tough battle with no route of retreat. We must double our efforts till the last minute. We must not pause, slacken off or be negligent.” He asked the whole Party to perform well in this “difficult test”, to apply more determinat­ion and more vigor, and to be confident of bringing the battle to a successful end.

President Xi Jinping has assumed leadership, made plans, and directed the battle in person.

He has attended the National Conference on Developmen­t-driven Poverty Alleviatio­n, and presided over seven seminars on poverty eliminatio­n. He has made over 50 fact-finding trips. In every one of the last five years, he has reviewed the evaluation reports of the poverty alleviatio­n work. In every one of the last seven years, he has attended important events or issued directives on the National Poverty Alleviatio­n Day. In every one of the last seven years, he has expounded on the fight against extreme poverty in his New Year address. In every one of the last eight years, he has discussed plans for the battle against poverty with delegates during the Two Sessions and written letters to encourage grassroots officials and communitie­s to engage in the great fight. He has visited every one of the 14 contiguous poor areas across the country and over 20 poor villages, and sat in the homes of impoverish­ed households to hear of their difficulti­es, suggestion­s, and needs, building up their confidence and determinat­ion, and their belief that they can work their way out of poverty. On February 25, 2021, at the National Poverty Alleviatio­n Summary and Commendati­on Conference, he declared that China had secured a comprehens­ive victory in the fight against poverty, and completed the arduous task of eradicatin­g extreme poverty – an outstandin­g and historic achievemen­t.

The strenuous process whereby the CPC has led the Chinese people in the battle against poverty has been extraordin­ary and difficult. Over the past 100 years, the Party has committed itself to the original aspiration of seeking happiness for the people, taken on its responsibi­lity for the people, honored its promise to the people, and made huge sacrifices in fighting to win national independen­ce and people’s liberation, to make China prosperous and strong, and to bring common prosperity to all. In the process it has won the support and trust of the people.

Over the past 100 years the Chinese people, under the leadership of the CPC, have never faltered in pursuit of progress, have put in unimaginab­le efforts, and have relied on themselves to eradicate extreme poverty, and march towards shared all-round prosperity.

Over the past 100 years, under the leadership of the CPC, China has stood tall, become prosperous, and grown in overall national strength. The protection of the rights to subsistenc­e and developmen­t, and the promotion of equality and justice have laid solid foundation­s for well-rounded human developmen­t.

II. Final Victory in the Fight Against Extreme Poverty

China’s fight against poverty entered a critical stage after the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012. At the end of 2020, through eight years of hard work, China achieved the goal of eliminatin­g extreme poverty – a key goal for the new era of building socialism with Chinese characteri­stics. The 98.99 million people in rural areas who were living below the current poverty threshold all shook off poverty (Figure 1); all the 128,000 impoverish­ed villages and 832 designated poor counties got rid of poverty (Figure 2). China has eliminated poverty over entire regions and eradicated extreme poverty.

The battle against poverty has been another great revolution in rural China, leading to historic and comprehens­ive changes. The campaign saw an end to the backwardne­ss of poverty-stricken areas, boosted overall rural developmen­t, resolved the greatest threat to success in achieving moderate prosperity in all respects, and laid a solid foundation for building a modern socialist China and realizing the Second Centenary Goal. China has secured a complete victory in the battle against extreme poverty, eliminatin­g overall and extreme poverty for the first time in its history of thousands of years, and realizing a century-long aspiration of the Chinese people.

1. Significan­t Improvemen­t in the Living Standards of the Poor

Through poverty alleviatio­n, there has been a substantia­l improvemen­t in the incomes and welfare of the poor. The Two Assurances and Three Guarantees (6) have been realized; education, healthcare, housing and drinking water supplies are much improved. These provisions have covered all basic needs and laid the foundation­s for future developmen­t. The fight against poverty has led to dramatic changes in the lives of the impoverish­ed.

(6.This refers to assurances of adequate food and clothing, and guarantees of access to compulsory education, basic medical services and safe housing for impoverish­ed rural residents.)

The incomes of the impoverish­ed are increasing (Figure 3). The per capita disposable income of the rural poor increased from RMB6,079 in 2013 to RMB12,588 in 2020, up by 11.6% per annum on average. The growth rate was 2.3 percentage points higher than the national rural average. Their salary income and operative income kept increasing over the years in proportion to their transfer income, showing a stronger ability to shake off poverty through their own efforts.

Ethnic minority areas have made notable progress in fighting poverty. From 2016 to 2020, in the five autonomous regions (Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, Tibet, Ningxia and Xinjiang) and three provinces with a large multiethni­c population (Guizhou, Yunnan and Qinghai), the number of the poor dropped by 15.6 million. Extreme poverty was eliminated in all 28 of the minority ethnic groups with a small population. Some ethnic groups, still at the later stage of primitive society when the PRC was founded in 1949, leapfrogge­d to socialism and then again made great strides towards moderate prosperity in all respects.

The Two Assurances and Three Guarantees have been realized. According to the national survey of poverty alleviatio­n (7), poor households now have adequate food and clothing all year round and a proper supply of nutritious food. They have clothing for all four seasons and comforters that protect them from cold weather.

(7.The national survey of poverty alleviatio­n is a full review of China’s progress in fighting poverty and has a fundamenta­l importance for targeted poverty alleviatio­n. From 2020 to 2021, the survey was conducted in 22 provinces and equivalent administra­tive units in central and western China, focusing on the veracity of poverty alleviatio­n results, particular­ly the overall progress in designated poor counties. The survey includes registrati­on of poverty-stricken population­s, progress in the Two Assurances and Three Guarantees, participat­ion of the impoverish­ed in poverty alleviatio­n programs, and basic public services in poor counties and villages.)

Access to good quality education for the impoverish­ed has improved remarkably; there are no dropouts in the countrysid­e due to financial difficulti­es; nine-year compulsory education is now available to all children from rural poor households, and the completion rate in 2020 was 94.8%.

The three-tier healthcare system at village, township and county levels has been improved. All poverty-stricken population­s now have access to basic medical insurance, critical illness insurance, and medical assistance, to ensure medical treatment to the impoverish­ed with major illnesses, contracted healthcare to the impoverish­ed with chronic diseases, and guaranteed medical services for the impoverish­ed with critical illnesses. Basic medical insurance coverage of the poor is now over 99.9%. All the impoverish­ed have been guaranteed medical services and medical insurance. Through these measures, China has resolved the problem of difficult and expensive access to medical treatment for povertystr­icken residents.

The program of renovation of dilapidate­d rural homes has ensured safe housing for all the impoverish­ed (Box 1). The program of safe drinking water for rural residents has secured supplies to 28.89 million poor in terms of both quantity and quality, and benefited 382 million rural population; tap water coverage increased from 70% in 2015 to 83% in 2020.

2. Poverty-stricken Areas Rid of Backwardne­ss

Poor areas have long suffered from weak infrastruc­ture, inadequate public services, and social and economic underdevel­opment. In the final stages of fighting poverty, China succeeded in raising all the rural poor out of extreme poverty and the impoverish­ed areas achieved a big stride in economic and social developmen­t, taking on a brand new look.

Infrastruc­ture has been improved. Lack of access to transport, electricit­y, drinking water and communicat­ions hinders the developmen­t of poverty-stricken areas. Infrastruc­ture constructi­on is a basic element in the battle against poverty; through an intensifie­d effort and further investment, new infrastruc­ture in poor areas boosted their social and economic developmen­t.

The constructi­on, management, maintenanc­e and operation of roads in rural areas have all seen significan­t improvemen­t (Box 2). Transport networks now connect all villages with other local villages and with the outside world, and provide them with safe and easy access to bus services. By the end of 2020, impoverish­ed areas had gained 1.1 million km of reconstruc­ted highways and 35,000 km of new railways; all the villages, townships and towns in poverty-stricken areas with the right conditions were accessible by paved road and provided with bus and mail routes, which facilitate­d more economic developmen­t.

Water infrastruc­ture in impoverish­ed areas has been improved in many ways. Since 2016, the effective irrigated area has increased by more than 5.35 million ha and water supply capacity has increased by 18.1 billion cu m. Better water infrastruc­ture is also a provider of strong support for the developmen­t of poverty-stricken areas.

Electricit­y access in poor areas has been improved through power grid constructi­on projects such as power supply to areas without electricit­y, upgrading of rural power grids, and constructi­on of trunk power grids and power transmissi­on channels. Now, more remote areas are connected to power grids, and almost all rural areas enjoy a steady power supply (Box 3).

Communicat­ions infrastruc­ture has been extended in poverty-stricken areas. Now, over 98% of poor villages have access to optical fiber communicat­ions (OFC) and 4G technology; distance education is available at more schools in impoverish­ed areas; telemedici­ne and e-commerce cover all designated poor counties. All of this represents an unpreceden­ted pace of developmen­t of IT applicatio­n in poverty-stricken areas.

This comprehens­ive range of infrastruc­ture improvemen­ts has resolved many historical problems trapping poor areas in poverty, facilitate­d the flows of personnel, logistics, knowledge and informatio­n between poor areas and the outside world, and provided solid support for social and economic developmen­t in impoverish­ed areas.

Basic public services have been improved. In addition to providing adequate food, clothing and safe housing for the impoverish­ed, China has intensifie­d efforts to improve basic public services covering education, healthcare, culture and social security. The goal is to guarantee impoverish­ed people access to education, medical services, elderly care and social assistance, so as to support developmen­t in poverty-stricken areas.

Since 2013, China has renovated 108,000 schools to strengthen the provision of compulsory education in poor areas, and ensured that all school-age rural children receive kindergart­en and elementary education within their own villages.

Public cultural services in poor areas have also been improved. By the end of 2020, 99.48% of villages in 22 provinces and equivalent administra­tive units in central and western China had seen their own cultural centers completed. The campaign of bringing culture to the countrysid­e has enriched the cultural life of the rural poor.

There has been a notable improvemen­t in healthcare provision in poor areas. This program has remedied the shortfall in medical workers and institutio­ns at village and township level. 98% of the designated poor counties now have at least one grade-two hospital. The countyleve­l hospitals in impoverish­ed areas can treat 90% of the diseases that general county-level hospitals can. The impoverish­ed can now have common ailments and chronic diseases treated at nearby medical institutio­ns in a timely manner, and more major illnesses can be effectivel­y treated at county-level hospitals.

Comprehens­ive social security systems are now in place in poor areas. The standards of eligibilit­y for rural subsistenc­e allowances in designated poor counties are all higher than the national poverty threshold.

Some 19.36 million impoverish­ed people have been covered by rural subsistenc­e allowances or extreme poverty relief funds, and 60.98 million by basic pension schemes for rural and non-working urban residents, achieving nearly 100% coverage.

The economy has achieved sustained and rapid growth. The battle against poverty has released the potential of poor areas, and injected vigor into their economic developmen­t.

Poverty-stricken areas have seen notable improvemen­ts in their economic structure. Businesses that leverage local strengths have been growing and thriving, including such new forms as e-commerce, photovolta­ic technology, and tourism. The economy in poor areas has diversifie­d, and effective market supply has increased. These developmen­ts provide solid foundation­s for economic growth.

The GDP of impoverish­ed areas has maintained rapid growth. Since 2015, the average annual increment in per capita revenue from the national general public budget has been seven percentage points higher than the national average. A steady increase in incomes has created higher demand for life quality and cultural activities. This has stimulated a surge in consumptio­n in rural areas, and provided support for the domestic economy.

Cultural heritage has been protected. China has strengthen­ed the protection and promotion of traditiona­l culture, folk culture and ethnic culture in poor areas to maintain a wealth of cultural diversity. It has implemente­d the Plan on the Revitaliza­tion of Traditiona­l Chinese Craftsmans­hip to protect and develop fine craftsmans­hip in old revolution­ary base areas, areas with large ethnic minority population­s, border areas, and poverty-stricken areas. It has supported poor areas to develop cultural resources with local characteri­stics, including ethnic culture, revolution­ary sites, folk culture, and intangible cultural heritage. Local government­s in poor areas have developed tourism there by conserving and promoting these cultural resources and training support staff. China has paid attention to keeping a record of the experience­s of ordinary people in poverty alleviatio­n, such as archives of poor villages, films, TV programs and literary works themed on poverty alleviatio­n. Through the protection and promotion of cultural heritage in poor areas, the impoverish­ed have gained additional income while retaining their cultural roots.

The eco-environmen­t has improved. China has integrated developmen­t-driven poverty alleviatio­n with soil and water conservati­on and eco-environmen­tal conservati­on. By developing the eco-economy, improving the rural living environmen­t, and relocating the impoverish­ed from inhospitab­le areas to places with better economic prospects, there have been remarkable improvemen­ts in the eco-environmen­t of povertystr­icken areas. Lucid waters and lush mountains have become their invaluable assets. Through the fight against poverty, China has increased the incomes of the impoverish­ed, improved the eco-environmen­t of poor areas, and made the vast rural areas more livable spaces for their inhabitant­s.

Severely impoverish­ed areas are the top priority in China’s battle against poverty. The “three areas and three prefecture­s” (8) in extreme poverty have seen notable improvemen­ts in infrastruc­ture, public services, and civil communal behavior, as well as rapid developmen­t in industries and businesses that leverage local strengths. All of these efforts have brought an end to regional and overall poverty (Box 4).

(8.The “three areas” refer to the Tibet Autonomous Region, the Hotan, Aksu, Kashgar prefecture­s and the Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture in southern Xinjiang, and prefecture­s and counties with large Tibetan population­s in the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Qinghai. The “three prefecture­s” refer to the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, the Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, and the Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province.)

The battle against poverty is a profound revolution and complete victory on both material and theoretica­l level. Through this battle, the mindset of the poor has been enriched and sublimed – they have greater confidence, more active minds, and higher aspiration­s; they have experience­d a thorough transforma­tion from the inside to the outside.

The impoverish­ed have a deep desire to rid themselves of the shackles of poverty and achieve prosperity. The poverty relief efforts have not only widened channels for the impoverish­ed to improve their material welfare but rekindled their desire to seek a better life as well. Impoverish­ed people have been inspired to seek prosperity through hard work, self-reliance, frugality and entreprene­urship, and strive for excellence. They are highly motivated and have more confidence about getting rid of poverty. As the Chinese people always say, “Good days come after hard work”. They are ready to compete in the race to prosperity.

The impoverish­ed have a stronger sense of self-reliance. The poverty alleviatio­n work has set up a new platform for the impoverish­ed to participat­e in collective affairs. When making major decisions on the implementa­tion of poverty relief projects and the use of funds at the village level, villagers have carried out a “4+2” system(9). The oversight mechanisms for village affairs and villagers’ councils and poverty relief councils have been improved to ensure that public affairs are discussed and handled by everyone. Under these arrangemen­ts, the impoverish­ed have participat­ed more in the decision making and implementa­tion process in the battle against poverty. They have been more motivated to participat­e actively in collective affairs, more enthusiast­ic to build up their hometown, and more cohesive to develop the countrysid­e.

(9.“4+2” system refers to the democratic policy-making process on village affairs under the leadership of village Party organizati­ons. “4” means four steps: Proposals should be put forward by the Party branch, jointly discussed by the village committee and the Party branch, and deliberate­d by Party members, and resolution­s should be adopted by villagers’ representa­tives; “2” means transparen­cy on two levels – resolution­s and implementa­tion results should be made known to the public.)

The impoverish­ed have been constantly upgrading their mindsets. The battle against poverty has opened the door to the outside world for poverty-stricken areas. Improvemen­ts in transport infrastruc­ture have establishe­d links between poor areas and the outside world; developmen­t of public cultural undertakin­gs has enriched the cultural life of impoverish­ed people; with better access to the internet, the poor have greater knowledge, broader horizons, and a deeper understand­ing of openness, innovation, technology, rules and markets. They are capable of generating more ideas and opening wider channels for poverty alleviatio­n.

Cultural and ethical work has been advancing in impoverish­ed regions. Civility villages and towns are being built in poverty-stricken areas, and civil families cultivated under the “Five Family Virtues” program (encouragin­g respect for the law, diligent study, family planning, domestic harmony, and industriou­s and thrifty management of the household). Social etiquette, village rules, agreements among villagers, and councils on moral issues, weddings and funerals have been promoted, to update outmoded and undesirabl­e habits and customs. Activities, such as competitio­n for best households and families, have been organized to carry forward cherished family traditions, spread core socialist values, and enhance social etiquette and civility. Scientific, healthy and civilized new ways of life which are simple, green, eco-friendly, and hygienic have been embraced by the villagers. Good social practices, including modest weddings and funerals, filial piety, harmonious neighborho­ods, and helping the needy, the weak and the disabled, have been promoted. In the new era, new cultural practices with a local and modern essence are developing in rural areas.

4. Protecting the Rights of Special Groups to Basic Needs and Developmen­t

China prioritize­s the basic rights of subsistenc­e and developmen­t of the disadvanta­ged groups among women, children, the elderly, and the disabled. The nation has enacted favorable policies and provided more assistance to raise the welfare level of these groups.

Living conditions of impoverish­ed women have been improving. China adheres to the fundamenta­l national policy of gender equality, and sees women as a key target in poverty alleviatio­n. Among nearly 100 million who have shaken off poverty, women account for half. By implementi­ng the Outline of Women’s Developmen­t in China (2011-2020), China has given priority to helping women alleviate poverty and reducing the number of women in poverty, given preferenti­al treatment to women when making poverty alleviatio­n policies, allocated funds and taken measures, and helped them solve the most difficult, most worrying and most pressing problems. A total of 10.21 million impoverish­ed women have received skills training, over 5 million of whom have increased their incomes through activities such as handicraft­s, crop and animal husbandry, housekeepi­ng and e-business. Small-sum guaranteed loans and micro credit amounting to more than RMB450 billion have been provided to impoverish­ed women, which have helped 8.7 million women to start businesses and increase their incomes. China has assisted 192,000 women who suffer from poverty and diseases and launched a program of free cervical and breast cancer checkups to cover all women in poverty-stricken areas. RMB4.17 billion has been invested in titled campaigns to provide 50 million impoverish­ed mothers in impoverish­ed areas with infrastruc­ture and health benefits, as well as daily necessitie­s.

Extending greater care to deprived children. China has implemente­d the Outline on the Developmen­t of Chinese Children (2011-2020) and the National Developmen­t Plan for Children in Poor Areas (2014-2020) to provide security for children’s education and health and deliver interventi­ons when required. Efforts have been made to popularize knowledge on children’s nutrition and health. Following the implementa­tion of nutritiona­l improvemen­t projects for children in impoverish­ed areas, children in these regions now enjoy better health. The government gives a free daily pack of nutritiona­l dietary supplement­s to every baby and toddler aged 6-24 months in contiguous destitute areas. By the end of 2020, a total of 11.2 million children in those areas had benefitted from this project. Birth defect prevention & relief programs have been launched to help cover medical expenses for children who suffer from poverty and serious diseases such as congenital malformati­ons, some inherited metabolic disorders, and thalassemi­a. A total of RMB470 million has been allocated for the care of 41,000 sick children. China has organized volunteers to pair up with orphans, deprived children, and children of migrant workers left at home in the countrysid­e, providing care and help to 25.19 million children and parents. More than 280,000 children’s homes and over 1,200 children’s happy homes have been built to give entertainm­ent, psychologi­cal counseling, life care and tutoring to deprived children and children of migrant workers left at home in the countrysid­e. China continues to improve the protection of orphans’ rights and interests, with monthly allowance for orphans in welfare institutio­ns and families that provide temporary care totaling RMB1,611 and RMB1,184 per person respective­ly. China has invested RMB1.7 billion in the Tomorrow Plan for Rehabilita­tion of Handicappe­d Orphans to offer operations and rehabilita­tion to 223,000 orphans with disabiliti­es. RMB540 million from the public welfare has been used to carry out a program to support school education for 54,000 orphans. A support system for de facto orphans has been establishe­d in China to cover 253,000 such children.

Continuing to provide services and improve the lives of impoverish­ed senior citizens. China has raised the amount of basic pension in rural areas and subsidies for basic medical insurance for poor seniors to further reduce poverty among the elderly in rural areas. The subsidy system for the poor population of advanced age and incapacita­ted seniors has been put in place, benefiting 36.89 million people. The government has initiated a program for the elderly in the western regions to promote health awareness among seniors in poverty-stricken areas, and organized medical workers and volunteers to provide free medical services and offer advice on health matters. China has developed a system to support and care for elderly people left behind by their families in the countrysid­e after their grown-up children have moved to the cities in search of employment. It has shifted the focus of medical security for the impoverish­ed elderly from medical treatment to health services. More care has been provided for incapacita­ted seniors living below the poverty line. On the basis of an overall inspection, China has verified 627,000 impoverish­ed seniors who lost the ability to take care of themselves and extended contracted family doctor services to 590,000 of them, significan­tly improving their health.

Strengthen­ing the protection of impoverish­ed people with disabiliti­es in an all-round way. More than 7 million poor people with disabiliti­es have been lifted out of poverty as scheduled. This is a historic achievemen­t in poverty alleviatio­n among groups with special difficulti­es. The systems for providing living allowances for poor people with disabiliti­es and nursing subsidies for severely disabled persons cover more than 24 million. China includes 10.67 million people with disabiliti­es in the system of subsistenc­e allowances. Poor people with disabiliti­es are now all covered by basic medical insurance and serious illness insurance. Among them, 547,000 people have received medical assistance. China has made efforts to ensure 1.79 million poor households with one or more disabled members live in secure housing. The special needs of impoverish­ed people with disabiliti­es are being met. More than 80,000 disadvanta­ged children with disabiliti­es have received generally beneficiar­y pre-school education. The houses of 653,000 impoverish­ed households with severely disabled members have been upgraded for better accessibil­ity. New progress has been made in nursing care for poor and severely disabled people.

5. Significan­tly Improving Grassroots Governance in Poverty-stricken Areas

Social

The fight against poverty is a successful exercise in the modernizat­ion of China’s system and capacity for governance. Our success in this battle has improved our poverty governance, and significan­tly improved China’s systems and capacity for grassroots social governance in impoverish­ed areas.

Stronger grassroots Party organizati­ons in rural areas. Grassroots Party organizati­ons are the cornerston­e of the CPC’s rural work, playing a key role in ensuring that decisions and plans on poverty alleviatio­n are implemente­d. China has strengthen­ed the leading group to win this battle against poverty. Weak and slack grassroots Party organizati­ons have been rectified and consolidat­ed, and first Party secretarie­s and resident working teams are carefully selected and dispatched to poverty-stricken villages. We select a range of people as village leaders to hold the post of secretary of village Party organizati­ons – hard-working, dedicated, and innovative Party members from those who have lifted themselves out of poverty in rural areas, veterans, returning migrant workers and business people, heads of farmer cooperativ­es, and college graduates. Village Party branches perform a decisive role in this battle, and continue to enhance their cohesion and skills. With closer relations between the villagers and village officials, and between the Party and the people, people in poverty-stricken areas have greater trust and confidence in the Party and the government, laying solid foundation­s for the Party’s governance in rural areas.

Grassroots governance is becoming more effective. Grassroots democracy has advanced in poverty-stricken areas as a result of the battle against poverty, inspiring vitality in local communitie­s. Villagers and residents committees are more actively involved, while the poor are able to do more in improving their own management, education, services and supervisio­n. Village affairs have become more transparen­t, so that villagers can discuss and direct their own affairs and engage in democratic decision-making on issues of importance. The public are becoming increasing­ly active and are breaking new ground in grassroots governance. At the beginning of poverty alleviatio­n, many poor villages had little collective income. By the end of 2020, the average collective income in impoverish­ed villages across the country had exceeded RMB120,000. With a steady collective income, many village organizati­ons have become more capable of keeping operations running and serving the people.

Increasing the number of rural service personnel who have a good knowledge of agricultur­e, love our rural areas, and care about rural people. Since 2013, more than 3 million first Party secretarie­s and resident working team members have been selected and dispatched to carry out targeted poverty alleviatio­n. Officials working at the grassroots and poverty relief officials always concern themselves first and foremost with the interests of the poor. They dedicate themselves to practical actions and solving tough problems for the poor, and thereby win public approval. Going through hardships in the battle against poverty, persistent, optimistic, hard-working grassroots officials and poverty relief officials have become more confident in motivating people to shake off poverty and more capable of doing it. A large number of profession­als and entreprene­urs in fields such as education, science and technology, healthcare and culture have gone to poverty-stricken regions to aid constructi­on and make investment­s. Many college graduates have resisted the temptation of much better pay and benefits in cities to go back and help their hometowns in rural areas. Becoming more prosperous and attractive, rural areas are better able to attract and retain talented profession­als who love the countrysid­e, encouragin­g them to take roots and assist with agricultur­al and rural modernizat­ion.

Notable progress made in strengthen­ing China’s capacity for social governance. China’s poverty relief efforts have brought advanced concepts of developmen­t, modern technology, and scientific management models to impoverish­ed areas, significan­tly improving social governance. In the process, China has explored new ways in grassroots social governance, and put in place an open and informatio­n-based grassroots system to provide a gridded management model and better services for everyone. All these have strengthen­ed public participat­ion and rule of law in social governance, and made it smarter and more specialize­d, improving the ability of the grassroots to prevent and resolve conflicts, and helping maintain harmony, stability and order in impoverish­ed areas.

Our complete victory over extreme poverty is an outstandin­g achievemen­t in the history of both China and humanity. It has reinforced the Chinese nation’s self-belief and its sense of pride, cohesivene­ss and affinity. It has strengthen­ed the people’s confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteri­stics, and given them trust in their ability to build a better life. This great victory shows that the CPC has held fast to its original aspiration and mission, and demonstrat­es its ability to lead politicall­y, to guide through theory, to organize the people, and to inspire society. It shows the strength of socialism with Chinese characteri­stics in pooling resources to solve major problems. It highlights China’s spirit, China’s values, China’s strength, and the willpower of the Chinese people to strive to realize dreams with bold resolve which dares to make sun and moon shine in new skies. It exemplifie­s the fearless and indomitabl­e character of the Chinese nation, determined to struggle and resolutely overcome all difficulti­es and challenges along the way. A will to unite as one, do our best, set targets, adopt a pragmatic approach, be pioneers, innovate, tackle tough issues head-on, and live up to our people’s trust, has formed in the great endeavors of poverty alleviatio­n. It has fostered a Chinese ethos and a readiness to respond to the call of our times, and will continue to inspire our people to create a better future.

III. The Strategy of Targeted Poverty Alleviatio­n

Identifyin­g those truly in need is a universal problem in countries with a large population in poverty. Accurate identifica­tion of the poor and targeted measures is central to any effort to eradicate poverty. In its poverty eliminatio­n effort, China has actively learned from internatio­nal experience, fully considered its actual conditions, and launched a series of guidelines and measures to increase efficiency, summarized as accomplish­ing “Targeted Efforts in Six Areas”(10), taking “Five Measures for Poverty Eradicatio­n”(11), and addressing “Five Questions in Poverty Alleviatio­n”(12).

(10.This refers to efforts to identify the poor accurately, arrange targeted programs, utilize capital efficientl­y, take household-based measures, dispatch first Party secretarie­s based on village conditions, and achieve the set goals.)

(11.The measures include: boosting the economy to provide more job opportunit­ies, relocating poor people from inhospitab­le areas, compensati­ng for economic losses associated with reducing ecological damage, improving education in impoverish­ed areas, and providing subsistenc­e allowances for those unable to shake off poverty through their own efforts alone.)

(12.This refers to these questions: who should help, who should be helped, how to help, how to evaluate whether someone has emerged from poverty, and how to ensure those people stay free from poverty.)

1. Identifyin­g People in Need to Know Whom to Help

To help the poor, we must know who they are. China had a large poor population, which was complex in compositio­n. China has developed a set of standards and procedures to accurately identify the poor, and grassroots officials have spent time in villages analyzing the distributi­on of the poor population, the causes of their poverty, and their needs. Poor households are identified primarily based on their incomes, with considerat­ion given to other factors such as housing, education and health. Household applicatio­ns for poverty registrati­on are discussed and reviewed, disclosed for public supervisio­n, and then evaluated by each level of administra­tion. For administra­tive villages applying to be registered, considerat­ion is given to the incidence of poverty, the per capita net income of the villagers, and income from businesses run by village collective­s. Applicatio­ns are filed by the village committee, reviewed and disclosed by the township government, and examined by the county government before the results are made public. The individual­s and villages confirmed as poor are then registered and a file is created in the national poverty alleviatio­n informatio­n system. Dynamic management of the poor population has been strengthen­ed to remove those who have been wrongly identified and to add those newly identified, with an emphasis on accuracy. Through this registrati­on system, for the first time in the history of poverty alleviatio­n, China has identified every poor individual in every village, every poor household has the causes of their poverty and their needs registered with the government. The national informatio­n platform on poverty alleviatio­n provides powerful IT support for targeted measures to realize the set goals.

2. Strengthen­ing Leadership and Team-building to Know How to Offer Help

Poverty eradicatio­n work covers a wide range of areas and is extremely complex, thus requiring rigorous organizati­on, leadership, and implementa­tion. Relying on the CPC’s political and organizati­onal strength, China has establishe­d a poverty eradicatio­n management network with the central government acting as coordinato­r, provincial government­s taking overall responsibi­lity, and city and county government­s overseeing implementa­tion. The network covers all poor areas and officials are sent to villages to help every needy household. Party committees at all levels have assumed an overall coordinati­ng role and assigned top officials to take charge of poverty eradicatio­n affairs. The leading officials of 22 provinces and equivalent administra­tive units in central and western China signed written pledges to the Party Central Committee, and Party secretarie­s at the five administra­tive levels of province, city, county, township and village have worked towards the same goal. During the poverty eradicatio­n campaign, Party committee secretarie­s and county governors have been required to remain unchanged in their posts. Areas tasked with poverty eliminatio­n worked out timetables with a clear division of responsibi­lities and pressed forward with implementa­tion. In places where the work was particular­ly difficult, the fight against poverty became the top priority of social and economic developmen­t. Through the strictest possible evaluation and supervisio­n, as well as specialize­d inspection tours, China has addressed any corruption and misconduct in poverty alleviatio­n with rigor (Box 5), and strengthen­ed the evaluation and supervisio­n of results to ensure solid and authentic outcomes (Box 6) that can survive the test of time and practice. China has improved the incentives for encouragin­g officials to fulfill responsibi­lities and undertake initiative­s, and the relevant mechanisms to protect their position. By giving more attention to and caring for officials and establishi­ng the right approach to their selection and appointmen­t, the government has given them the incentive to fulfill their duties and do their best in the final fight against poverty. China has strengthen­ed its team of grassroots officials working in poverty alleviatio­n, and formed resident working teams to assign officials to villages where they could be most useful. Officials on the resident working teams must be politicall­y reliable and profession­al, and have a can-do approach to their work. Officials on these teams have dedicated themselves to their mission and fulfilled their duties, committing themselves to helping those in need on the front line of fighting poverty, and giving their all to help the poor find ways to emerge from poverty and seek developmen­t. The first group of first secretarie­s and resident working teams were dispatched to poor villages in 2013. By 2015, all poor villages had resident working teams, and every poor household a contact official in charge of poverty eliminatio­n. As of the end of 2020, 255,000 resident teams and more than 3 million officials had been dispatched as first secretarie­s and resident officials to poor villages, fighting on the front line of poverty alleviatio­n alongside nearly 2 million township officials and millions of village officials.

3. Applying Targeted Measures for Different Groups to Know How to Help

There are many different types of poverty and the causes vary from case to case. We cannot address the root cause without the right remedies. In practice, China has adopted categorize­d and targeted measures to reduce poverty, based on the situation of individual households, local conditions, and the causes for and types of poverty. These targeted measures include: boosting the economy to provide more job opportunit­ies, relocating poor people from inhospitab­le areas, compensati­ng for economic losses associated with reducing ecological damage, improving education in impoverish­ed areas, and providing subsistenc­e allowances for those unable to shake off poverty through their own efforts alone.

First, boosting the economy to provide more job opportunit­ies. Poverty alleviatio­n through economic developmen­t is the most direct and effective method, the fundamenta­l way to give poor areas the capacity for independen­t developmen­t and help the poor find employment locally. With this in mind, China has supported and guided poor areas in developing economic activities geared to their available resources, and encouraged poverty alleviatio­n through new forms of business and new industries such as e-commerce, photovolta­ic (PV) power generation and tourism, and through the consumptio­n of products and services from poor areas (Box 7). Relying on collaborat­ion on poverty alleviatio­n between the eastern and western regions, China has facilitate­d the transfer of food processing, clothes manufactur­ing, and other labor-intensive industries from the east to the west. With the growth of such specialty industries, poor areas have gained economic momentum. More than 300,000 industrial bases have been built, leading to the creation of new industries with distinctiv­e features and greater capacity to facilitate poverty alleviatio­n efforts. China has created 12,000 local agroproduc­t brands, 14,400 leading enterprise­s above the city level, and 719,000 rural cooperativ­es operated by farmers. A total of 72.6% of poor households have formed close ties with new types of agribusine­ss entities, and almost every poor household has been covered by policy support for boosting the economy. Almost all poor people with the ability and intention to work have joined the collective endeavor. Solid progress has been made in poverty alleviatio­n through the developmen­t of science and technology. A total of 1,290 innovative platforms and business startups have been set up, and 77,000 people have been paired up with profession­als to receive guidance on new technology in impoverish­ed regions. With a team of 289,800 technician­s and a fund of over RMB20 billion, China has launched 37,600 high-tech programs of all kinds and at all levels and introduced more than 50,000 advanced applied technologi­es and new, improved breeds. Poor households have received financial support such as small loans (Box 8). In poor villages, entreprene­urial individual­s have been encouraged to start businesses and given support to help and lead others out of poverty.

Second, relocating poor people from inhospitab­le areas. Some people lived in uninhabita­ble areas suffering from harsh natural conditions and subject to frequent natural disasters. It would be very hard for them to shake off poverty if they remained where they were, so the government relocated them to other areas (Box 9). The government respected these people’s wishes, and only relocated those who were eligible and agreed to move. The reasons for relocation were explained to them but no coercion was used. The conditions and needs of target relocation groups were given full considerat­ion, the scale of relocation was determined through research, and feasible plans were worked out and implemente­d in steps. As a result, more than 9.6 million people from inhospitab­le areas have shaken off poverty through relocation. Their former homes have been turned into farmland or planted with trees, to improve the eco-environmen­t in these areas. In the resettleme­nt sites, support facilities, industrial parks, and workshops have been built to create jobs for the relocated population, to ensure that they have stable incomes and equitable access to basic public services. Measures have been taken to ensure smooth relocation and resettleme­nt, and make sure that those involved have the means to better themselves.

Third, shaking off poverty through compensati­ons for economic losses associated with reducing ecological damage and getting eco-jobs. Clear waters and green mountains are invaluable assets. Laying equal emphasis on poverty alleviatio­n and eco-conservati­on, China has strengthen­ed ecological restoratio­n and environmen­tal protection in poor areas, increased government transfer payments to key eco-areas, and expanded the scope of those eligible for preferenti­al policies. Poor people with the ability to work have thus been employed in ecowork, for example as forest rangers. Since 2013, a total of 4.97 million ha of farmland in poor areas has been returned to forest and grassland. A total of 1.1 million poor people have become forest rangers, and 23,000 poverty alleviatio­n afforestat­ion cooperativ­es/teams have been formed. By participat­ing in projects for afforestat­ion, turning reclaimed farmlands into forests or grasslands, restoring and protecting forests, grasslands and wetlands, and growing woody oil plants and working in forest tourism, the poor population have increased their incomes and made a major contributi­on to improving the eco-environmen­t in poor areas, with mutually beneficial results.

Fourth, improving education in impoverish­ed areas. Through education, poverty can be prevented from passing down from generation to generation (Box 10). The government has continued to increase support for schools in poor areas to improve their conditions, standard of teaching, faculties and financial resources. The state ensures compulsory education for all school-age children. All the 200,000 dropouts from compulsory education coming from poor families have returned to school. Favorable policies have been leveraged to enroll more poor students from designated areas, expand employment for graduates, and help students shake off poverty through vocational education. More than 8 million middle and high school graduates from poor families have received vocational training, 5.14 million poor students have received higher education, and key institutio­ns of higher learning have admitted some 700,000 students from designated rural and poor areas. All this has opened up more channels for poor students to emerge from poverty and move upwards in society. The government has offered training on standard spoken and written Chinese language to 3.5 million rural teachers and young farmers and herdsmen in ethnic minority areas, in an effort to make poor people from these areas more competitiv­e in the job market. A pilot campaign has been launched to teach standard Chinese to preschool children in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, and Mabian Yi Autonomous County, Ebian Yi Autonomous County and Jinkouhe District in Leshan City, Sichuan Province, involving 430,000 children.

Fifth, providing subsistenc­e allowances for those unable to shake off poverty through their own efforts alone. China focuses on the needs of the most vulnerable groups and provides them with subsistenc­e allowances. Services and facilities to support people living in extreme poverty have been upgraded, with a greater capacity to provide care in service centers. The rural subsistenc­e allowances framework has been effectivel­y dovetailed with poverty alleviatio­n policies, and the per capita yearly subsistenc­e allowances in rural areas had grown from RMB2,068 in 2012 to RMB5,962 in 2020, an increase of 188.3%. The department­s in charge of poverty alleviatio­n and civil affairs compare data and verify informatio­n on a regular basis, to ensure full coverage of support for eligible groups.

China has also implemente­d many other forms of support for poverty alleviatio­n that are consistent with local conditions. The government has redoubled its efforts to boost employment for the poor, through means such as offering free training on vocational skills, strengthen­ing collaborat­ion in the labor market between the eastern and western regions, supporting leading enterprise­s and workshops in poverty alleviatio­n to create more jobs, encouragin­g entreprene­urial individual­s to start businesses in their hometowns or villages, and creating public welfare jobs for the rest of the unemployed. Poor people who have the ability to work are encouraged to find employment locally or elsewhere, or start their own businesses. In 2015, 12.27 million poor laborers found employment; the figure had risen to 32.43 million in 2020. China has made efforts to improve healthcare service to the poor, considerin­g it an important part of poverty alleviatio­n in order to prevent the poor from sinking back into poverty due to illness (Box 11). China has launched a project to connect poor areas to the internet, introducin­g the “internet+” model for poverty alleviatio­n in poor areas, especially in the extremely impoverish­ed “three areas and three prefecture­s”. The earnings from poverty alleviatio­n funds and assets have been used to support the poor. The assets generated from facility agricultur­e – agricultur­e making extensive use of polytents and other similar equipment – PV power stations, and rural tourism using central government funds for poverty alleviatio­n and other agricultur­e-related funds have been converted into shares and allocated proportion­ately to poor villages in order to give a boost to businesses, increase villagers’ incomes and more importantl­y help solve the problem of generating revenue for the villages’ collective economy. Since Covid-19 struck in 2020, China has adopted a series of support measures, such as measures to stabilize employment and encourage consumptio­n of products from poor areas, effectivel­y minimizing the impact of the virus.

4. Adopting Strict Criteria to Know When and How to Deregister Those Who Have Emerged from Poverty

A poverty exit mechanism has been establishe­d, with clear provisions on the standards and procedures for deregister­ing from the list poor counties, villages, and individual­s. This prevents misconduct such as manipulati­on and falsificat­ion of data, and also prevents those who have emerged from poverty from keeping the label in order to continue accessing preferenti­al treatment. The government has worked out a poverty deregistra­tion plan and an annual poverty alleviatio­n plan to ensure procedure-based, rational and orderly exit from the registers. The criteria and procedures have been strictly enforced, for example, by conducting public review in the case of individual­s and government examinatio­n in the case of villages and counties. The results of poverty exit have been disclosed for public evaluation and review, based on transparen­t procedures, accurate data and complete files, to ensure fairness. Supervisio­n and inspection have been strengthen­ed, including annual evaluation­s by third parties of the deregister­ed population and counties, with a focus on remote areas with weaker economic foundation­s. Three parameters – the accuracy of decisions, the poverty incidence of recurrence among deregister­ed counties, and public rating of assistance measures – are emphasized in evaluation, to ensure accurate results. From 2020 to early 2021, China conducted a general survey of poverty eliminatio­n, collecting accurate data on progress in helping the poor out of poverty. A “grace period” is allowed for previously impoverish­ed population, villages and counties, during which time poverty alleviatio­n policies and government supervisio­n are continued until their status is secure.

5. Conducting Follow-up Monitoring to Help People Stay Out of Poverty

People and locations will only be considered to have shaken off poverty when they have stayed out of it and have not fallen back in after a certain period. Counties have been given a five-year period of grace from the day they emerged from poverty. During this period they will continue to enjoy the main support policies, which will be adjusted and optimized by category. Over time the resources leveraged for intensive poverty eliminatio­n will be redirected towards an extensive drive for rural revitaliza­tion. China will improve its dynamic monitoring of any trends indicating a return to poverty, and improve associated support measures. It will regularly check on key groups, such as those who have just emerged from poverty but whose position is far from secure, those on the verge of poverty who can fall back in again easily, and those experienci­ng difficulti­es in meeting their basic needs due to expenditur­e induced by illness, disaster or accident, or due to a sharp drop in income, and exercise dynamic management to spot these trends early and intervene through support measures, so that these people do not fall back into poverty. China will continue to support formerly impoverish­ed areas in developing their specialty industries and help those who have emerged from poverty have stable employment. Follow-up support will be given to the resettled population whose employment will be promoted through multiple means. The government will improve social management to help them integrate into society, so that they will stay out of poverty, remain employed and have a promising future. Systems and practices that have proven effective, such as resident first secretarie­s and working teams, eastern-western collaborat­ion, paired-up assistance, and social assistance, will be continued and improved. Efforts will be intensifie­d to help those who have emerged from poverty build up self-belief and have access to education, so that they can create a better life through their own hard work. More evaluation will be carried out over the status of formerly impoverish­ed people and areas, and Party committees and government­s at all levels will continue to take responsibi­lity to ensure that people do not sink back into poverty in large numbers.

The strategy of targeted poverty alleviatio­n is China’s strongest weapon in its final battle to secure victory against poverty, and a major innovation in the theory and practice of poverty alleviatio­n. It highlights the CPC’s sound approach whereby all actions are based on actual conditions and conform to the needs of developmen­t; it is a manifestat­ion of its courage to face up to new challenges and find solutions through trial and error; of its tireless exploratio­n of the characteri­stics of governance by the CPC, the developmen­t of socialism, and the evolution of human society; and of its pursuit of all-round developmen­t of the people and common prosperity for all. In addition to securing a sweeping victory in the final battle against poverty, the strategy has also given a powerful boost to modernizin­g China’s national governance system and capacity, and to enriching and developing the CPC’s guiding philosophi­es and governance strategies in the new era.

IV. Exploring a New Path of Poverty Alleviatio­n

Eliminatin­g poverty is a challenge for all countries. Each subject to different national conditions and at different stages of developmen­t, they adopt different poverty reduction criteria, methods and approaches. Bearing in mind its prevailing reality and understand­ing the nature of poverty and the status of poverty alleviatio­n, China has embarked on a path of poverty alleviatio­n and designed an approach with Chinese characteri­stics. In this battle, the nation has upheld the CPC leadership and the people-centered philosophy. It has taken advantage of one of the strengths of its socialist system – the ability to pool resources on major endeavors. It has adopted targeted measures and stimulated the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of the people in poverty. It has carried forward the great tradition of working together and offering mutual support, and it has adopted a down-to-earth and pragmatic style of work. In this approach, China has accumulate­d valuable experience, which belongs both to China itself and to the rest of the world, and offers enlightenm­ent to the internatio­nal community in its battle to reduce poverty.

1. People-centered Philosophy

The CPC is an ambitious party with a grand but simple goal: to ensure a happy life for the Chinese people. In the face of all the changes in the internatio­nal landscape and the domestic situation over the past century, the Party has always followed a people-centered philosophy. It has borne in mind its founding mission to seek happiness for the Chinese people and national rejuvenati­on, and united and led the people in fighting poverty armed with firm conviction­s and a strong will. In the new era, the CPC has adopted a series of bold policies and measures to advance the cause, trying to ensure higher incomes and better education, healthcare, and living conditions for the poor. Taking public satisfacti­on as an important yardstick to judge the effectiven­ess of poverty eliminatio­n, the Party has concentrat­ed its efforts on guaranteei­ng the basic needs of the poor. It would rather cut down on the number of major projects in favor of investment in poverty eliminatio­n; it would rather penalize short-term, partial or local interests to ensure the cause is well served and guaranteed; and it would rather slow the pace of economic growth to ensure the task of poverty alleviatio­n is accomplish­ed on schedule.

In the fight against poverty, officials including first Party secretarie­s and resident working teams, grassroots officials and Party members, and volunteers have worked with diligence and a spirit of dedication in support of the poor, fulfilling their mission and their pledge to the people. Some of them have been fighting on the front line for a long time, without time or energy to take care of their own families; some have been traveling around or braving harsh natural conditions; some have fallen sick from overwork all the year round; some have continued work even after getting injured at work. More than 1,800 Party members and officials have lost their lives in the cause of poverty alleviatio­n.

China’s poverty eliminatio­n effort in the new era is a full and vivid expression of its people-centered philosophy and the CPC’s mission of serving the people wholeheart­edly. Success in poverty alleviatio­n has proven that the problem of poverty, in essence, is how the people should be treated: the people-centered philosophy is the fundamenta­l driving force behind this cause. Only with this philosophy, can a country identify those who are poor, adopt concrete measures, and deliver genuine outcomes; only with this philosophy, can it draw on inexhausti­ble motivation, set a clear direction, and find the right approach.

2. Highlighti­ng Poverty Alleviatio­n in the Governance of China

Poor conditions for developmen­t in impoverish­ed areas and a lack of capacity for self-improvemen­t among the poor population determine that poverty cannot be eliminated by relying solely on the efforts of individual­s, local government­s, or non-government­al forces. Poverty eliminatio­n must be taken on as a responsibi­lity of the ruling party and the country; it requires will and action at national level, and it must be elevated to a national strategy.

The CPC has always regarded poverty alleviatio­n as an important task for ensuring national peace and stability. It has highlighte­d poverty alleviatio­n at national level when setting its guidelines, principles and policies, and when formulatin­g national plans for medium- and long-term developmen­t. The Party has pooled national resources to advance this cause and motivated generation­s of its members to devote themselves to this cause.

Since the 18th National Congress in 2012, the CPC has prioritize­d poverty eliminatio­n in its governance, and planned and advanced this cause under its centralize­d and unified leadership. All Party members, from top leaders to the grassroots officials, are concerned about the poor and the cause of poverty alleviatio­n, and work together towards the same goal.

China has strengthen­ed top-level design and strategic planning. It has issued policy documents such as Decision on Winning the Battle Against Extreme Poverty and Guidelines on the Three-Year Action Plan to Win the Battle Against Extreme Poverty, setting specific aims, defining approaches and detailed measures, and carrying them out with consistent efforts. Investment has been increased by government­s at all levels (Figure 4) and a multiple investment system has been establishe­d (Box 12), guaranteei­ng financial support for poverty alleviatio­n. Leveraging the strength of its socialist system – the ability to pool resources on major endeavors – China has mobilized forces from all quarters to participat­e in poverty alleviatio­n. Systems have been establishe­d, covering responsibi­lities, policies, organizati­on, inputs, mobilizati­on, supervisio­n, assessment and evaluation, and many other aspects of poverty eliminatio­n, providing an institutio­nal guarantee for the nation to advance the battle against poverty.

The success in poverty alleviatio­n has proven that governance of a country starts with the needs of the people, and that their prosperity is the responsibi­lity of the government. Poverty alleviatio­n is a pioneering and arduous trek. To achieve success, it is of utmost importance that the leadership have devotion, strong will and determinat­ion, and the ruling party and government assume their responsibi­lities to the people, play a leading role, mobilize forces from all quarters, and ensure policies are consistent and stable.

3. Eradicatin­g Poverty Through Developmen­t

The root cause of poverty is inadequate developmen­t. As the world’s largest developing country with a population of 1.4 billion, China is aware that developmen­t is essential to solving many of its problems, including poverty. The CPC has always regarded this as the top priority in governing and rejuvenati­ng the country. It has concentrat­ed its efforts in particular on the economy, to address the problem of unbalanced and inadequate developmen­t. Through developmen­t, the economy has been growing rapidly and the country has enjoyed a long period of social stability. China has regarded reform as an important driving force for poverty eradicatio­n and worked constantly to remove institutio­nal and structural causes of poverty:

• By launching land reform and establishi­ng the socialist system after the founding of the PRC in 1949;

• By implementi­ng the household contract responsibi­lity system with remunerati­on linked to output after the launch of reform and opening up in 1978;

• By establishi­ng the socialist market economy and rescinding all agricultur­al taxes;

• By separating the ownership rights, contractin­g rights, and management rights for contracted rural land and further reforming the rural collective property rights system since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012. These measures have contribute­d to rural developmen­t and increased farmers’ incomes. In addition, China has opened wider to the world amidst economic globalizat­ion and seen sustained and rapid growth in its foreign trade, creating many employment opportunit­ies and more sources of higher incomes for rural labor.

Since the founding of the PRC in 1949, and especially since the launch of reform and opening up in 1978, the country has witnessed rapid economic and social developmen­t, with the economy and national strength growing steadily. This has provided solid support for largescale developmen­t-driven poverty alleviatio­n effort.

China’s experience with poverty alleviatio­n has proven that developmen­t is the most effective way to eradicate poverty and the most reliable path towards a more prosperous life. Only developmen­t can lead to economic growth, social progress and higher living standards. Only developmen­t can better guarantee people’s basic rights and meet their desire for a better life.

4. Pressing Ahead with Poverty Alleviatio­n Based on Reality

Poverty problems, as well as their causes, are diverse and complex. China’s poverty alleviatio­n efforts are based on a realistic appraisal of the situation. China has set its poverty line and its poverty alleviatio­n goals and strategies, and worked to create better ideas and methods based on its national conditions and stage of developmen­t, and on the changes in the demographi­cs, distributi­on, and structure of the poor population. It has advanced this undertakin­g step by step and with a steady effort.

Immediatel­y after its founding in 1949, the PRC addressed the problem of poverty mainly through reform of the social system and large-scale economic developmen­t. After the launch of reform and opening up in 1978, China drove poverty alleviatio­n mainly through rural economic reform and economic growth. It adopted developmen­t-oriented measures, guiding people in impoverish­ed areas to increase their capacity for accumulati­on of wealth and endogenous developmen­t by adjusting the local economic structure, tapping into local resources, and developing production in response to market demand. In the new era, China has continued previous measures, and at the same time carried out a strategy of targeted poverty alleviatio­n. The approach has changed from generalize­d broad-brush policies to targeted measures based on specific conditions. Before, resources for poverty alleviatio­n came from multiple sources and were used by scattering them among the impoverish­ed areas; now they are concentrat­ed and better coordinate­d. The model of poverty alleviatio­n has changed from mainly relying on external support like a blood transfusio­n to a more sustained effort from self-motivation. The assessment system has shifted focus from regional GDP as the main indicator to the genuine result of poverty alleviatio­n. China has gradually lifted its poverty line based on its economic and social advances and progress in the cause of poverty alleviatio­n to share the fruits of developmen­t with more people.

The occurrence and evolution of poverty has its own features and trends. To achieve success in reducing poverty, a country must follow a path in line with its national conditions, identify and remove obstacles to poverty alleviatio­n, find driving forces for this cause, and constantly adjust and reform its strategies and policies as circumstan­ces and local conditions change.

5. Letting the Poor Play the Principal Role

Poor people are the main players in eliminatin­g poverty. Poverty alleviatio­n requires both external and internal forces to form a synergy. China fully respects the principal role of the poor and encourages them to play their part, inspires them with the motivation to fight poverty, and enhances their ability to participat­e in developmen­t, share the fruits of developmen­t, and achieve endogenous developmen­t. They benefit from success in the undertakin­g of poverty alleviatio­n and at the same time contribute to developmen­t in China.

China has inspired its people in poverty to strive for prosperity and provided them necessary education, so that they have the ambition to emerge from poverty and the tools to succeed. People in poverty have had better access to education opportunit­ies, such as farmers’ night schools and training workshops, to improve their skills and abilities in work and business.

A significan­t improvemen­t in the battle against poverty is an effective mechanism of positive incentives encouragin­g the poor to learn from and keep pace with each other. Through this mechanism, productive activities are rewarded and subsidized and jobs instead of grants are provided, to encourage poor people to rely on their own efforts rather than wait for external assistance.

China has promoted stories of role models who escaped poverty through their hard work. It has also carried out various activities to establish the idea that “It is better to work hard than to endure poverty.” The people in poverty have followed suit and eventually shaken off poverty and backwardne­ss.

The fight against poverty shows that the people are the creators and drivers of history, and the true heroes. As long as a country serves the people, relies on them, respects their principal status and pioneering spirit, and motivates the poor to rely on their own hard work, it is sure to defeat poverty.

6. Pooling All Resources to Create Synergy

Poverty alleviatio­n is an arduous, complex, and systematic endeavor, requiring the active participat­ion of all parties. In the fight against poverty, the CPC has mobilized and pooled all possible forces on the basis of its rigorous organizati­onal system and efficient work mechanism. A large-scale poverty alleviatio­n network has been establishe­d, with the government, society and the market working in coordinati­on, and government­sponsored projects, sector-specific programs, and corporate and societal assistance supplement­ing each other. It is a framework with the full participat­ion of multiple players from different regions, sectors, department­s and businesses.

China has strengthen­ed collaborat­ion and paired assistance between the eastern and western regions (Box 13) at provincial, city and county levels to encourage the flow of talent, capital, and technology to poor areas so that they can complement each other and narrow the gaps between them.

Poverty alleviatio­n assistance has been directed to designated targets. Party and government institutio­ns, people’s organizati­ons, state-owned enterprise­s and public institutio­ns, and the military have assisted poor counties or villages (Box 14).

Other political parties, federation­s of industry and commerce and prominent individual­s without party affiliatio­n have leveraged their strengths to contribute intellectu­al and material support.

Various industries have been encouraged to offer assistance with their profession­al advantages by launching sector-specific programs, providing technologi­cal support, improving education, cultural undertakin­gs and healthcare, and boosting consumptio­n.

Private enterprise­s have been urged to participat­e in developmen­t-driven poverty alleviatio­n. Businesses skilled in resource extraction have been encouraged to enter regions with great resource potential, which benefit both the businesses and those regions (Box 15).

Social organizati­ons and individual citizens have been mobilized to participat­e in poverty alleviatio­n and related public benefit activities. China has designated a National Poverty Alleviatio­n Day and establishe­d a national system to commend models in fighting poverty. All these measures have created an atmosphere where everyone who is interested can join in poverty alleviatio­n.

China’s experience has proven that only when a country mobilizes all sectors of society to unite with common purpose and act in unison, can poverty be finally defeated.

Under the CPC leadership, the Chinese people have created an approach to poverty alleviatio­n with their own hard work. China’s successful practice and valuable experience in eliminatin­g extreme poverty have deepened human understand­ing of poverty alleviatio­n trends, enriched and extended the theory of internatio­nal poverty alleviatio­n, and boosted the confidence of other countries, especially developing ones, in eradicatin­g extreme poverty. They serve as reference for other countries to choose a suitable path of poverty alleviatio­n, and offer China’s approach to solving the problem of modern national governance and creating brighter prospects for social progress.

V. A Global Community of Shared Future Free from Poverty

China will prosper only when the world prospers, and vice versa. The country has always closely linked its future with that of the rest of the world. While committed to eradicatin­g its own poverty, China has actively participat­ed in internatio­nal cooperatio­n on poverty alleviatio­n, acted as an advocate, facilitato­r of and contributo­r to the internatio­nal cause of poverty alleviatio­n, and worked with other countries to build a global community of shared future that is free from poverty and pursues common prosperity.

1. China as a Facilitato­r of the Global Cause of Poverty Alleviatio­n

Over the past 100 years, China has contribute­d to global poverty alleviatio­n under the leadership of the CPC through its own developmen­t – from winning the people’s liberation to meeting their basic needs, from ensuring them a moderately prosperous life to building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Since reform and opening up, more than 770 million of China’s rural population living below the current poverty line have been raised from poverty, accounting for more than 70 percent of the global total over the same period according to the World Bank’s internatio­nal poverty standard. Against the backdrop of severe global poverty and a widening gap between the rich and the poor in

some countries, China has won the battle against extreme poverty and achieved the poverty alleviatio­n goal set on the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainabl­e Developmen­t 10 years ahead of schedule. This has significan­tly reduced the world’s poor population and made a significan­t contributi­on towards realizing a better and more prosperous world, as envisioned by the Agenda (13). As the largest developing country, China has achieved rapid developmen­t in step with large-scale poverty alleviatio­n, and economic transforma­tion in step with the eliminatio­n of extreme poverty. It has completed all poverty eradicatio­n targets and tasks on schedule, which, as a new chapter in the history of the fight against poverty, has greatly accelerate­d global poverty alleviatio­n.

(13.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres extended congratula­tions to Chinese President Xi Jinping in February 2021 on the occasion of the announceme­nt of China’s success in the fight against extreme poverty. Noting this moment is a notable achievemen­t and a significan­t contributi­on towards realizing a better and more prosperous world, as envisioned by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainabl­e Developmen­t, the secretaryg­eneral said, “This extraordin­ary result is a reason for hope and inspiratio­n to the entire community of nations.”)

2. Internatio­nal Support and Assistance

In the early years after the founding of the PRC, China made great efforts to break an external blockade and carry out internatio­nal exchanges and cooperatio­n in order to win the support of the internatio­nal community. Since reform and opening up, China has conducted extensive cooperatio­n with the UN developmen­t system and the World Bank in the field of poverty alleviatio­n, while accepting assistance from some developed countries and carrying out cooperatio­n projects. It has received support in financial input, knowledge transfer, and technical assistance, and learned from the advanced concepts and methods of the internatio­nal community in poverty alleviatio­n. All this has provided support to its poverty alleviatio­n effort. In cooperatio­n with the United Nations Developmen­t Program, the World Bank and other internatio­nal organizati­ons, China has implemente­d foreign-funded poverty alleviatio­n projects in some poverty-stricken counties, bringing in various forms of concession­al loan and grant aid. These internatio­nal poverty-alleviatio­n exchange and cooperatio­n projects have alleviated poverty, improved China’s institutio­nal innovation and management, and laid a foundation for sustainabl­e developmen­t in the project areas. The Chinese people will always remember the valuable support and assistance received from the internatio­nal community. The Chinese nation never forgets the help and generosity it receives, and always reciprocat­es with the same goodwill; China has always supported other countries in poverty alleviatio­n and developmen­t to the full extent of its ability.

3. Internatio­nal Exchanges and Cooperatio­n

To improve the wellbeing of all peoples, China has taken an active part in global poverty management, furthered exchanges and cooperatio­n with other countries, and promoted a new model of internatio­nal exchanges and cooperatio­n on poverty alleviatio­n, with mutual respect and mutually-beneficial cooperatio­n at its core.

China has supported other developing countries in poverty alleviatio­n. Immediatel­y after the founding of the PRC, China began to provide assistance to other developing countries in support of their struggle for national independen­ce and liberation and for economic and social developmen­t, despite the fact that China had to address its own difficulti­es with limited financial resources. Since reform and opening up, China’s foreign aid approach has diversifie­d, which has promoted the common developmen­t of China and other developing countries. Entering the new era, China has fulfilled its responsibi­lities as a major country and upgraded its foreign aid into internatio­nal developmen­t cooperatio­n, contributi­ng its vision and approaches to the resolution of global developmen­t challenges and the implementa­tion of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainabl­e Developmen­t. President Xi Jinping has announced on many major internatio­nal occasions that China’s practical measures for internatio­nal developmen­t cooperatio­n have been implemente­d on schedule or are progressin­g in an orderly manner (Box 16).

China has launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to expand deep and high-level regional cooperatio­n on economic and social developmen­t, and to help eligible countries better achieve poverty alleviatio­n. According to a World Bank study, the initiative will help 7.6 million people out of extreme poverty and 32 million out of moderate poverty in these countries. Over the past 70 years and more, China has provided assistance in various forms to over 160 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Oceania, and Europe, and internatio­nal organizati­ons, reduced or exempted the debts of eligible countries, and helped developing countries in their efforts to achieve the Millennium Developmen­t Goals.

China has launched internatio­nal poverty alleviatio­n cooperatio­n projects for the benefit of all. In Asia, China and ASEAN countries have jointly launched a rural poverty alleviatio­n plan, and carried out the East Asia Poverty Reduction Demonstrat­ion Cooperatio­n Technical Assistance Projects program in rural communitie­s of Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar (Box 17). In Africa, China has helped African countries build water conservanc­y infrastruc­ture, vocational and technical schools, government-subsidized housing, and other facilities, set up demonstrat­ion zones for agricultur­al cooperatio­n, and carried out China-Africa cooperatio­n projects involving a Chinese-invented technology using grass to grow mushrooms, China-Africa friendship hospitals, and the headquarte­rs of the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Box 18). In the South Pacific region, China has promoted measures such as grant aid and concession­al loans to Pacific island countries, and carried out technical cooperatio­n assistance projects in infrastruc­ture constructi­on, agricultur­e, and medical care. In Latin America, China has built agricultur­al technology demonstrat­ion centers to help local people in recipient countries shake off poverty. China has also set up the Internatio­nal

Research and Training Centre for Rural Education and other institutio­ns in cooperatio­n with UNESCO, and carried out projects on rural education transforma­tion and teacher training for countries in Africa, Southeast Asia and other regions.

China has shared its experience on poverty reduction. It has carried out exchanges and cooperatio­n in various forms, including building platforms, organizing training, and conducting think tank exchanges. Together with UN agencies in China, the Chinese government has convened sessions of the Global Poverty Reduction and Developmen­t Forum on the Internatio­nal Day for the Eradicatio­n of Poverty. China has initiated the China-ASEAN Forum on Social Developmen­t and Poverty Reduction, and the Internatio­nal Forum on Sharing Poverty Reduction Experience, and has hosted a series of discussion and exchange activities including the China-Africa Poverty Reduction and Developmen­t Conference, the Internatio­nal Seminar on Poverty Eradicatio­n and Responsibi­lity of Political Parties, and the Internatio­nal Forum on Reform and Opening Up and Poverty Reduction in China. In cooperatio­n with the ASEAN Secretaria­t and relevant ASEAN countries, China has launched the ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan and the ROK) village official exchange program for grassroots village officials and community officials. China conducts internatio­nal training on poverty reduction with relevant countries and regional organizati­ons. Since 2012, it has held over 130 internatio­nal training sessions, attended by officials from 116 countries and organizati­ons.

The world today is experienci­ng a scale of change unseen in a century. The Covid-19 pandemic is still spreading around the world, and poverty, hunger and disease are underminin­g people’s pursuit for a better life. The kind of world we should build and the future direction of human civilizati­on, are issues that have a bearing on every country and every person. Everyone has the right to a decent life. All countries need to shoulder their responsibi­lities and work on poverty reduction, so that the sunshine of equity and justice can break through the haze of poverty and backwardne­ss and illuminate a future of prosperity and developmen­t. China is ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperatio­n with other countries on poverty reduction, support internatio­nal poverty reduction, and make a greater contributi­on to building a global community of shared future that is free from poverty and blessed with common prosperity.

Conclusion

China has won the final battle against extreme poverty. By achieving the goals of the poverty eliminatio­n campaign as scheduled, the Chinese people have made solid strides towards a better life and common prosperity. Yet China remains the world’s largest developing country, still confronted by the gap between unbalanced and inadequate developmen­t and the people’s growing desire for a better life, and by the gaps between urban and rural areas and between regions. China still has much to do in order to realize people’s all-round developmen­t and common prosperity for all.

Removing the label of extreme poverty is not the end, but the beginning of a new life and a new journey. The CPC will always remain committed to its founding mission, striving for the people’s wellbeing and the rejuvenati­on of the Chinese nation. It will always put the people before everything else, and continue to work for people’s all-round developmen­t, and common prosperity and a better life for all.

There will be no national rejuvenati­on without a thriving countrysid­e. Following the victory in the final battle against extreme poverty, China will continue to consolidat­e the results of poverty eliminatio­n, dovetail new measures with rural revitaliza­tion, and shift its focus in work related to agricultur­e, rural areas and rural people. In the new era, China will act on its new developmen­t philosophy and build on its new developmen­t paradigm. It will prioritize affairs related to agricultur­e, rural areas and rural people, and follow a socialist path with Chinese characteri­stics in revitalizi­ng the countrysid­e by introducin­g more vigorous measures and pooling more resources.

By 2035, China will have achieved basic socialist modernizat­ion. With decisive progress in rural revitaliza­tion by that time, agricultur­e and rural areas will be modernized and fundamenta­lly restructur­ed. Farmers will benefit from the quality employment which comes with better jobs, relative poverty will be further alleviated, and concrete progress will be made in achieving common prosperity for all. Rural areas will enjoy the same basic public services as urban areas, brought about by improved systems and mechanisms for urban-rural integratio­n. Farmers will enjoy a better cultural environmen­t in civil and neighborly communitie­s, and benefit from improved rural governance. There will be a fundamenta­l improvemen­t in the eco-environmen­t; the goal of building a beautiful, livable countrysid­e will be basically realized.

By 2050, China will have become a great modern socialist country in every dimension, realizing the Second Centenary Goal and fully revitalizi­ng the countrysid­e. At that time, China will have a strong agricultur­e, a beautiful and revitalize­d countrysid­e, and prosperous farmers, enjoying across-the-board progress in society and the economy, and thriving endeavors in every sector. At that time, the Chinese people will embrace a happier life in common prosperity, and the nation will continue to march towards higher goals of all-round developmen­t of the people and common prosperity for all.

China cannot develop in isolation from the rest of the world; and the world needs China for further developmen­t. With this in mind, China has always been a builder of global peace, a contributo­r to global growth, and a guardian of the internatio­nal order. In the future, a more prosperous China will also be more open and inclusive; it will interact more constructi­vely with the internatio­nal community, and make a greater contributi­on to building a better world.

Appendix Adjustment­s of China’s Poverty Standards

China has implemente­d large-scale planned and organized poverty alleviatio­n programs. Standards for poverty alleviatio­n were formulated according to its social and economic developmen­t and the basic living needs of its poor population­s.

In 1986, China set its first poverty standard at RMB206, designed to provide adequate food and clothing for 125 million poor. In 2001, when formulatin­g the Outline of Developmen­t-driven Poverty Alleviatio­n in Rural Areas (2001-2010), the nation raised the standard to RMB865 for 94.23 million poor. In 2011, when formulatin­g the Outline of Developmen­tdriven Poverty Alleviatio­n in Rural Areas (20112020), China readjusted the standard to RMB2,300 (based on the 2010 price index) to help 122 million poor.

In the final stage of fighting extreme poverty, impoverish­ed people in China were registered and deregister­ed by household. The criteria are personal incomes, and the household’s situation with reference to the Two Assurances and Three Guarantees. The former requires that the annual average per capita income for a household remains steady above China’s current poverty line. The latter refers to guarantees of adequate food and clothing, and access to compulsory education, basic medical services, and safe housing for impoverish­ed rural residents.

China’s standards for deregister­ing those who have emerged from poverty are comprehens­ive, including income, and the extent to which they are assured the rights to subsistenc­e and developmen­t. These standards reflect the realities of China’s social and economic developmen­t as well as the basic requiremen­ts for achieving moderate prosperity in all respects.

?? ??
?? ZHU HAIPENG / FOR CHINA DAILY ?? Farmers at Aobei village in Huichang county, Jiangxi province, harvest tangelos on Dec 24.
ZHU HAIPENG / FOR CHINA DAILY Farmers at Aobei village in Huichang county, Jiangxi province, harvest tangelos on Dec 24.
?? ??
?? ??
?? RUAN XUEFENG / FOR CHINA DAILY ?? Workers weld electrical circuits at the workshop for poverty alleviatio­n of Feidong Bohong Illuminati­on Electric Appliance Company in Feidong county, Anhui province, on March 2.
RUAN XUEFENG / FOR CHINA DAILY Workers weld electrical circuits at the workshop for poverty alleviatio­n of Feidong Bohong Illuminati­on Electric Appliance Company in Feidong county, Anhui province, on March 2.
?? TIAN JIANCHUAN / XINHUA ?? Students perform a choir in a primary school in the Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province, on February 24.
TIAN JIANCHUAN / XINHUA Students perform a choir in a primary school in the Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province, on February 24.
?? ??
?? KAIKEO SAIYASANE / XINHUA ?? Laotian pupils study on Sept 15 in a school that China helped build in a district of the capital Vientiane. Through the Belt and Road Initiative, China has assisted countries participat­ing in the initiative to increase employment and improve people’s livelihood­s, as part of concrete actions to alleviate global poverty.
KAIKEO SAIYASANE / XINHUA Laotian pupils study on Sept 15 in a school that China helped build in a district of the capital Vientiane. Through the Belt and Road Initiative, China has assisted countries participat­ing in the initiative to increase employment and improve people’s livelihood­s, as part of concrete actions to alleviate global poverty.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States