Xi: Over 700 mln people out of poverty in past 40 years

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Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that over 700 million Chinese people have rid themselves of poverty in the past 40 years of reform and opening up, – a miracle in human history.

President Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks on the fifth National Poverty Alleviation Day.

The problem of absolute poverty, which has existed for thousands of years in China, is about to be resolved historically, noted Xi, adding that poverty alleviation has now entered its most critical stage.

He called for determination to win the battle against poverty and urged various departments in various regions to take up their responsibilities.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang underlined the importance of strengthening support for poverty alleviation in poverty-stricken areas and taking more effective measures to help special groups among China's impoverished rural population.

He also noted that poverty alleviation funds should be strictly supervised and the assessment and inspection of poverty alleviation work should also be improved.

Poverty alleviation should stimulate the innate power of the impoverished, Li added.

He also mentioned that the task of lifting a further 10 million people out of poverty this year and the goal of completely eliminating poverty by 2020 must be achieved.

Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua conveyed the messages of President Xi and Premier Li at a meeting to honor poverty reduction achievements on Wednesday in Beijing.