CRI听力:China to Enhance Poverty Alleviation Accuracy

There are now over 80 million people still living in poverty in China.

The government plans to reduce the number by 10 million this year.

Zheng Wenkai is Deputy Director of the Poverty Alleviation Office of the State Council.

"We should first promote the development of some basic representative industries and sectors in less developed areas. These sectors are closely related to poverty alleviation. So we will work on such sectors as energy resources and photovoltaic industries. And we will push the expansion of electronic commerce in rural areas."

According to the Office, around 590 counties in China are registered as poverty-stricken.

But some are believed to be taking advantage of that status as explained by Wang Sangui, a professor at China's Renmin University.

"There are obvious reasons for that. Poverty-stricken counties are privileged to enjoy many resources, including preferential policies, tax policies and direct investment. These are all very attractive to poverty-hit counties."

Ahead of the country's first "Poverty Alleviation Day" which falls on Friday, the State Council launched a new campaign in a bid to eliminate that phenomenon.

Su Guoxia is Director of the policy and regulation department at the Poverty Alleviation Office.

"Poverty-stricken counties should be regulated as they receive support from the government. For example, the investment should be arranged in a proper proportion with more being invested in people's livelihoods and poverty alleviation. We should act firmly against some phenomena, such as building big square centers in villages and towns and supporting other projects which are divorced from reality."

Suo Guoxia adds the new policy will focus on improving the evaluation method for impoverished counties, applying more restraints on the use of fund and checking the county's qualification regularly.

Professor Wang Sangui suggests more be done on what he calls "accurate poverty alleviation".

"In the future, we should focus on 'accurate poverty alleviation', with more emphasis on impoverished households. No matter where they are, they will be found. It means targeting specific individuals instead of the whole county. So the concept of "Poverty-stricken county" will probably be retired in the near future."

A new guideline issued by the central authorities stipulates that support funds should be transferred directly and in a timely manner to villagers in need.

For CRI, I'm Tu Yun.