Xi stresses poverty relief for rural areas

GUIYANG - President Xi Jinping has stressed poverty relief in underdeveloped rural areas as key for economic development nationwide.

Xi made the remarks on Thursday at a Communist Party of China symposium on poverty relief and economic and social development in the 2016-2020 period.

"The most arduous task for achieving a well-off society in an all-round way lies in the rural areas, especially the impoverished ones. Party committees and governments at all levels should strive for a scientific poverty relief plan," Xi told attendees.

China is aiming to have established an "all-round well-off society" by 2020, a goal which includes specific requirements in GDP, income per capita, college enrollment rates and the number of doctors per 1,000 people.

The symposium was held in an impoverished area in southwest China's Guizhou Province.

Xi urged officials to set goals that are "not too distant and not too conservative."

"Poverty relief has entered the final rush period and is a hard nut to crack... Party committees and governments at all levels should clarify their thoughts, strengthen their sense of responsibility and take more drastic and targeted measures," he said.

The president stressed coordination by central authorities, overall responsibility of province-level regions and implementation by cities and counties in stepping up poverty relief and development.

"Central authorities should carefully make policies, arrange projects, prepare funds and carry out evaluations, while those at province level should do their best to determine goals, allocate funds and conduct inspections," Xi said, adding that grassroots organs should see to the progress of projects and the use of funds and personnel.

Underlining "high precision," he called for policies based on different local situations and different causes of poverty.

Xi cited production, employment, resettlement, financial and medical support from the government as key relief approaches, while encouraging financial input from industries and the efforts of social forces.

"Financial support at central and provincial levels should increase, and the government should continue to play the leading role in poverty relief and development," the president added.