He Lifeng, director of China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said on Tuesday that 2.8 million poverty-stricken people are expected to be relocated from inhospitable areas in 2018 as part of the country's poverty reduction drive. He urged local governments to carry out the plan fully while respecting the people’s wishes. He made the comment during a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.