China to relocate 2.5 million people to reduce poverty

2017-03-21
cgtn.com

China’s macroeconomic management agency, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has announced it has allocated nearly 19 billion yuan (about $2.5 billion) in relocation funds as part of its poverty reduction drive. It said some of this would be directed at accommodation projects this year, which could benefit 2.5 million people.

China has vowed to eradicate poverty by 2020, and it’s well on its way to realizing that goal. Last year, nearly 2.5 million people said to be living in poverty were relocated, meeting the target for the year. China defines poverty as having an annual income of less than 2,800 yuan ($405).

According to a government work report presented at the annual parliamentary session earlier this month, China aims to reduce the number of rural residents living in poverty by more than 10 million in 2017, a third of whom being relocated from underdeveloped areas.