As China gears up for a milestone, many are singing the praises of its most populous region.

With 110 million residents, China’s most populous province on Monday unveiled solid development numbers, some dating as far back as the inception of the People’s Republic of China. 

At the press event, the State Council Information Office announced 70 years of economic figures for Central China's Henan Province.

As China’s fifth largest economic region, Henan registered a GDP of 4.81 trillion yuan in 2018, up from 2.088 billion yuan in 1949. Its per capita GDP has risen from 50 yuan to 50,000 yuan, according to Wang Guosheng, secretary of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee. 

“With guidance on development and the reform and opening-up policy, we have made solid strides and demonstrated our capability of building a new Henan that is prosperous, harmonious and modernized,” Wang said at the press conference.

Chinese President Xi Jinping also expressed his hopes for a “more wonderful” Henan, which will contribute to the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, Wang cited.

Provincial leaders say that will take further efforts to address agricultural development in terms of rural areas, rural people and rural revitalization.

Statistics show that in 2013 Henan had 38 nationally-designated and 15 provincially-designated poor counties, and 6.98 million poverty-stricken rural people, ranking third in China. 

In recent years, the provincial government has beefed up efforts in support of the development of local industries, relocating rural residents living in inhospitable areas, and building a better transportation infrastructure, according to Wang.

Nearly 38 poverty-stricken counties, as well as 8,135 poverty-stricken villages and 5.824 million poor rural residents have been lifted out of poverty. The poverty headcount ratio dropped from 8.79 percent at the end of 2013 to 1.21 percent last year.

But poverty reduction is never easy, as the country set a 2020 national goal of achieving an all-round moderately prosperous society in the Chinese countryside.

“We can feel the heavy burden as well as the commitment to shouldering the responsibility,” Wang noted, adding that the provincial focus of the next step will be on areas of deep poverty and special groups among the impoverished rural population. 

Provincial leaders also say Henan will advance its industrialization, and open-up under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.