China releases blueprint on poverty alleviation

The Chinese communist party on Monday made public an ambitious plan to ensure that poor people in rural areas have access to food, clothes, basic education, medical care and a safe home by 2020.

A document spelling out measures to lift 70 million poor rural people out of poverty by 2020 was released by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council, Xinhua news agency reported.

The document was a result of a high-profile conference on the issue in Beijing late November, during which the leadership pledged resolute measures to help lift 70 million poor rural people out of poverty by 2020.

Poverty alleviation will also help expand domestic demand and boost economic growth, said the document.

It called for creative ideas and methods to address poverty as the country had hit "the home stretch" in its fight against the problem.

The document reiterated that there should be more targeted and precise measures, as well as ways to ensure poor people in rural areas have access to food, clothes, basic education, medical care, and a safe home by 2020.

Per capita disposable income of farmers in poor areas should grow faster than the national average, and basic public services should almost match the national average criteria.

"Extraordinary measures should be taken, solid solutions applied, and the party and society should be mobilized to win the tough battle against poverty," the document added.