10 regions awarded $58m for poverty alleviation achievements

Ten regions in China have been awarded 400 million yuan ($57.9 million) each for their outstanding achievements in poverty alleviation last year, an official of China's poverty alleviation office said at a news conference on Thursday.

Hebei province, Hubei province, Hunan province, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Hainan province, Sichuan province, Guizhou province, Tibet autonomous region, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region have been evaluated as "good" for their poverty alleviation work in 2018, said Xia Gengsheng, deputy director of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development at the conference.

The 400 million yuan award is for further poverty alleviation work in these regions, Xia added.

Xia said 13.86 million people in China's rural areas have been lifted out of poverty in 2018, adding that the country has helped more than 10 million people shake off poverty for sixth consecutive year.

Last year, 283 counties moved out of poverty trap, with all provinces across the country completing their annual poverty alleviation goals.

Per capita disposable income of farmers in poverty-stricken areas rose to 10,371 yuan last year, with a growth rate higher than the per capita disposable income of farmers nationwide for six years in a row.

Registered poverty-stricken population now enjoy enough food and clothing in general, with public services such as compulsory education, basic medical care and housing security significantly better, Xia said.

China has committed itself to eliminating poverty by 2020, and the director added that more than 10 million people will be lifted out of from poverty in 2019.