China strives to reduce poverty

BRICS

(PHOTO: Xinhua)

China’s ongoing efforts in reducing poverty and developing poor rural areas are reportedly working. “By the end of 2013, China managed to cut the poverty population by 16.5 million and the figure for 2014 is 12.32 million,”a Chinese official cited figures at a press conference in Beijing on Monday.

The goal in China to reduce those in poverty by 10 million has been achieved  for two consecutive years.

In the first six months of this year, the growth rate of the average income for poor rural area residents is higher than the national average in rural areas. Although the development of China’s poor areas is under pressure due to the economic slowdown, the goal of getting one million more out of poverty this year is still achievable, according to Hong Tianyu, Deputy Director of Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development at the press conference.

October 17th is National Poverty Alleviation Day, the second one for China. Before the day, the 2015 Global High Level Forum on Poverty Reduction and Development will be held in Beijing on Friday, where Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to deliver a keynote speech, elaborating on China’s various measures.

Participants will include top leaders from Chad, Croatia, Cambodia, Laos and Bolivia, as well as leading officials from the United Nations Development Program, World Health Organization, BRICS New Development Bank and Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Globally, analysts say extreme poverty is now at its lowest in history.

During the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund last week, President of World Bank Jim Yong Kim predicted that the percentage of the world’s population living in extreme poverty will drop from about 900 million in 2012 to about 700 million, or around 9.6% of the world’s whole population, by the end of this year.

Despite this achievement, problems such as armed conflict and climate change are also hindering the process. The organization is seeking to help refugees fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa, and trying to end the extreme poverty by 2030.

Story by CCTV NEWS.