China's plan to beat poverty by 2020 an 'extremely difficult mission'
To reach its goal, the mainland must lift a million people a month from impoverished lives
The mainland faces an enormous challenge in reaching its goal of eradicating poverty by 2020, a cabinet official helping to lead the effort said yesterday.
There were still 70.17 million people living below the mainland's poverty line at the end of last year, most of them in rural areas, according to data compiled by the National Bureau of Statistics. The line is drawn at an annual income of 2,300 yuan (HK$2,800).
To meet its goal of building a moderately prosperous society by 2020, the government must lift all of them out of poverty. This means that close to 12 million people must move above the line every year - about a million people a month.
"The time is very short and the task very heavy and arduous. If there are no special major initiatives, it will be extremely difficult to achieve this mission," said Hong Tianyun, deputy director of the State Council's leading group office of poverty alleviation and development.
Despite rapid economic growth over the past two decades, a lack of jobs in rural areas has driven adults away, leaving children and the elderly behind.
"With economic growth slowing down, government input may decrease and new policies and measures are needed," said Song Hongyuan, director of the Ministry of Agriculture's Research Centre for the Rural Economy.
