Xi Jinping Urge More Effort to Eliminate Poverty

On March 8, 2015, President Xi Jinping urged more efforts to eradicate poverty, speed development in areas with concentrations of ethnic minorities, and in economic restructuring.

Speaking with lawmakers from south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in a panel discussion during the annual session of the National People's Congress, Xi said targeted measures should be taken to help people lift themselves out of poverty and poverty alleviation work should be done in a timely and down-to-earth manner.

Stress should be laid on economic restructuring, building an open economy full of vitality, Xi said.

Efforts should be made on advancing the rule of law to create a fair and orderly legal environment for the economy and development, and the legitimate rights of people in the areas with concentrations of ethnic minorities should be protected in the framework of the rule of law, he added.

The Chinese government aims to reduce the poor population by more than 10 million this year, according to a government work report delivered last on March 5 by Premier Li Keqiang.

About 52 million Chinese poor, struggling below the poverty line of 2,300 yuan (U.S.$ 370) a year, were lifted out of poverty in the past four years, according to official figures.

Speaking with lawmakers from southwest China's Sichuan Province, the premier also called for bigger efforts in the battle against poverty and improving people's living standards.

Sichuan should play a leading role in increasing effective market demand, growing the economy, improving the quality of economic growth and profitability, and promoting industrial upgrading in global competition, Li said.

Speaking with lawmakers from northeast China's Liaoning Province, NPC Chairmam Zhang Dejiang said the economy is confronted with both opportunities and challenges in the “new normal” of slower growth but higher quality.

But opportunities were bigger than challenges, Zhang told Liaoning lawmakers.

(Source: Shanghai Daily)