A Pivotal Decision on Poverty Alleviation in China
Original, GPIG, 11-02-2017
After the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council conducted in-depth investigations on development-oriented poverty alleviation against the backdrop of China’s drive to complete the process of building a moderately prosperous society. Based on extensive consultations, it was concluded that poor regions and the poor population constitute a stumbling block in this process and that poverty must be eliminated in order to achieve moderate prosperity. A pivotal decision was taken to carry out the strategy of targeted poverty alleviation and elimination. In November 2015, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council adopted the Decision on Winning the Fight Against Poverty, which charts the course for China’s poverty alleviation campaign through to 2020.
Setting clear goals
The state is committed to ensuring that by 2020, the impoverished rural population will have stable access to adequate food and clothing, compulsory education, and basic medical services and housing; a growth rate of per-capita disposable income in poor rural areas will be higher than the national average; indices of major basic public services will be close to the national average levels; the rural population living below the current poverty threshold and all impoverished counties will be lifted out of poverty; and the problems of regional poverty will be solved.
Implementing a targeted strategy
Targeted measures should be implemented in terms of funding, projects, and recipients. Every impoverished household is guaranteed help, every village has designated officials to carry out poverty eradication measures, and goals are met within the defined standards. Guided by this strategy, the Chinese Government has launched a five-pronged initiative to eradicate poverty in different regions and communities: developing local industries, relocating impoverished residents to other places, offering compensation for ecological conservation, improving educational conditions and providing a social safety net. The initiative aims to enable registered poor people shake off poverty by promoting local businesses, helping them seek employment or resettle in other areas and offering them educational and medical assistance. Moreover, social security programs will be made available to those who have completely or partially lost their ability to work, in order to rid them of poverty.
Improving the conditions for development
The government is committed to resolving development bottlenecks by accelerating the construction of transportation, water and power infrastructure. It will make the most of its Internet Plus strategy by alleviating poverty through e-commerce. It will speed up the renovation of dilapidated houses in rural areas and the improvement of the rural habitat. In this process, living and working conditions in poor villages will improve as the government forges ahead with the Beautiful and Livable Countryside Program. Priority will be given to former revolutionary bases, areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, border areas and contiguous regions where the living conditions are below the poverty line.
Strengthening the support system
While giving full play to government investment’s principal and leading role in development-oriented poverty alleviation and ensuring that the government pumps funds into poverty alleviation programs in proportion to its responsibilities, new funding sources should be explored. The government will encourage various financial institutions, including commercial and cooperative institutions as well as those specializing in financing government policy-oriented projects and development programs, to increase their support. It will improve policies concerning the use of land for poverty alleviation purposes. Land use plans for new construction projects will be tilted in favor of those supporting poverty alleviation. Annual land use plans for new construction projects in key counties in the poverty alleviation campaign will enjoy special arrangements. Science, technology and talent will be tapped into to address critical technical issues in the development of local specialty industries and the preservation of ecosystems in poor areas. The application of practicable modern technology in poor areas will be stepped up.
Mobilizing society
The mechanism for collaboration between eastern and western regions on poverty alleviation will be improved. While working to accomplish their own poverty alleviation goals, eastern provinces, municipalities and major cities will assist their partners in underdeveloped regions in the west. Improvements will be made to the targeted assistance system to ensure all departments involved honor their obligations. The government will encourage private companies, social organizations and individuals to participate in development-oriented poverty alleviation to synergize social resources and government initiatives. It will call on non-governmental players to focus on assisting villages and households so that all poor households are paired up with Party members, government workers and philanthropists.
Defining responsibilities
China has adopted a working mechanism with the central authorities in charge of integrated planning, governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities taking overall responsibilities, and governments of cities (prefectures) and counties responsible for implementation. Each level shoulders its own responsibilities. Departments under the CPC Central Committee and the Central Government are obligated to engage in development-oriented poverty alleviation within their scope of duties and effectively integrate departmental plans with the overall plan. Capable leaders should be selected to head the CPC committees and governments of counties with a heavy poverty alleviation workload. These leaders should remain in their positions during the poverty alleviation campaign. The competence of leaders in poor towns and townships should be enhanced, while Party organizations in villages should become more innovative, cohesive and efficient. Strict assessment, supervision and accountability should be enforced, while underachieving departments and regions are held accountable.
Enhancing international cooperation
China will strengthen exchanges and cooperation with other developing countries and international organizations on poverty alleviation through multiple channels such as foreign aid, project cooperation, technology transfer and think tank exchanges. While drawing on globally advanced concepts and practices, it will undertake international poverty reduction obligations. It is also committed to implementing the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and making greater contributions to the global cause of poverty reduction.
Original, GPIG, 11-02-2017
After the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council conducted in-depth investigations on development-oriented poverty alleviation against the backdrop of China’s drive to complete the process of building a moderately prosperous society. Based on extensive consultations, it was concluded that poor regions and the poor population constitute a stumbling block in this process and that poverty must be eliminated in order to achieve moderate prosperity. A pivotal decision was taken to carry out the strategy of targeted poverty alleviation and elimination. In November 2015, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council adopted the Decision on Winning the Fight Against Poverty, which charts the course for China’s poverty alleviation campaign through to 2020.
Setting clear goals
The state is committed to ensuring that by 2020, the impoverished rural population will have stable access to adequate food and clothing, compulsory education, and basic medical services and housing; a growth rate of per-capita disposable income in poor rural areas will be higher than the national average; indices of major basic public services will be close to the national average levels; the rural population living below the current poverty threshold and all impoverished counties will be lifted out of poverty; and the problems of regional poverty will be solved.
Implementing a targeted strategy
Targeted measures should be implemented in terms of funding, projects, and recipients. Every impoverished household is guaranteed help, every village has designated officials to carry out poverty eradication measures, and goals are met within the defined standards. Guided by this strategy, the Chinese Government has launched a five-pronged initiative to eradicate poverty in different regions and communities: developing local industries, relocating impoverished residents to other places, offering compensation for ecological conservation, improving educational conditions and providing a social safety net. The initiative aims to enable registered poor people shake off poverty by promoting local businesses, helping them seek employment or resettle in other areas and offering them educational and medical assistance. Moreover, social security programs will be made available to those who have completely or partially lost their ability to work, in order to rid them of poverty.
Improving the conditions for development
The government is committed to resolving development bottlenecks by accelerating the construction of transportation, water and power infrastructure. It will make the most of its Internet Plus strategy by alleviating poverty through e-commerce. It will speed up the renovation of dilapidated houses in rural areas and the improvement of the rural habitat. In this process, living and working conditions in poor villages will improve as the government forges ahead with the Beautiful and Livable Countryside Program. Priority will be given to former revolutionary bases, areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, border areas and contiguous regions where the living conditions are below the poverty line.
Strengthening the support system
While giving full play to government investment’s principal and leading role in development-oriented poverty alleviation and ensuring that the government pumps funds into poverty alleviation programs in proportion to its responsibilities, new funding sources should be explored. The government will encourage various financial institutions, including commercial and cooperative institutions as well as those specializing in financing government policy-oriented projects and development programs, to increase their support. It will improve policies concerning the use of land for poverty alleviation purposes. Land use plans for new construction projects will be tilted in favor of those supporting poverty alleviation. Annual land use plans for new construction projects in key counties in the poverty alleviation campaign will enjoy special arrangements. Science, technology and talent will be tapped into to address critical technical issues in the development of local specialty industries and the preservation of ecosystems in poor areas. The application of practicable modern technology in poor areas will be stepped up.
Mobilizing society
The mechanism for collaboration between eastern and western regions on poverty alleviation will be improved. While working to accomplish their own poverty alleviation goals, eastern provinces, municipalities and major cities will assist their partners in underdeveloped regions in the west. Improvements will be made to the targeted assistance system to ensure all departments involved honor their obligations. The government will encourage private companies, social organizations and individuals to participate in development-oriented poverty alleviation to synergize social resources and government initiatives. It will call on non-governmental players to focus on assisting villages and households so that all poor households are paired up with Party members, government workers and philanthropists.
Defining responsibilities
China has adopted a working mechanism with the central authorities in charge of integrated planning, governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities taking overall responsibilities, and governments of cities (prefectures) and counties responsible for implementation. Each level shoulders its own responsibilities. Departments under the CPC Central Committee and the Central Government are obligated to engage in development-oriented poverty alleviation within their scope of duties and effectively integrate departmental plans with the overall plan. Capable leaders should be selected to head the CPC committees and governments of counties with a heavy poverty alleviation workload. These leaders should remain in their positions during the poverty alleviation campaign. The competence of leaders in poor towns and townships should be enhanced, while Party organizations in villages should become more innovative, cohesive and efficient. Strict assessment, supervision and accountability should be enforced, while underachieving departments and regions are held accountable.
Enhancing international cooperation
China will strengthen exchanges and cooperation with other developing countries and international organizations on poverty alleviation through multiple channels such as foreign aid, project cooperation, technology transfer and think tank exchanges. While drawing on globally advanced concepts and practices, it will undertake international poverty reduction obligations. It is also committed to implementing the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and making greater contributions to the global cause of poverty reduction.
