Xi calls on grassroots officials to speed up poverty alleviation in rural areas
CGTN
["china"]
01:17
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on grassroots officials to make greater efforts in poverty alleviation in rural areas, as the country vows to eradicate absolute poverty by 2020.
President Xi said officials should build more connections with local people and take the responsibility to help villagers with difficulties in daily life and improve living standards in deprived villages.
Graphics: Poverty alleviation achievements in China (2012-2017)

Graphics: Poverty alleviation achievements in China (2012-2017)

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during a video conference at People's Daily in Beijing when he was talking to local reporters and officials in a village in north China's Hebei Province.
He also learned about the progress of the poverty alleviation work in Yuying Village of Luanping County in Chengde City, also in Hebei.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with other members of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, visits People's Daily in Beijing and speaks to grassroots workers in a village in Hebei Province during a video conference, January 25, 2019. /Xinhua Photo 

Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with other members of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, visits People's Daily in Beijing and speaks to grassroots workers in a village in Hebei Province during a video conference, January 25, 2019. /Xinhua Photo 

China will lift about 10 million people in rural areas out of poverty in 2019, as part of its efforts to "secure a victory in the tough battle against poverty in a crucial year," according to a plan released after the National Meeting on Poverty Reduction and Development held late December. It also vowed to eradicate absolute poverty by 2020.
The country has lifted over 700 million people out of poverty over the past four decades, about 68.5 million of which was lifted out of poverty from 2012 to 2017.
During the video conference, the president also extended Spring Festival greetings and good wishes to all officials at grassroots level across the country.