In February 2021, China declared a comprehensive victory in its battle against poverty, as 98.99 million rural residents rose above the poverty line. The achievement marked the beginning of a new chapter: consolidating the gains made is now a critical task.
To keep poverty at bay, China has implemented a series of top-level designs and policy safeguards. Following the success of the poverty alleviation campaign, at the end of 2020 the country established a five-year transition period to ensure that both the regions and individuals lifted out of poverty receive continued support. During this period, major assistance policies have facilitated a smooth transition from poverty alleviation to rural revitalization.
A key component of this strategy is a dynamic monitoring and assistance mechanism for those at risk of returning to poverty, including households that have recently escaped poverty and those on the brink of falling back into poverty. This system features regular checks and dynamic management to ensure early detection, intervention and support.
Specific measures to consolidate the achievements of poverty alleviation include industrial assistance, employment support and social security, Zhang Xingwang, vice minister of agriculture and rural affairs, said at a press conference in January.
Focused efforts are being made to promote the development of rural specialty industries. All 832 poverty-stricken counties that were removed from the poverty list in 2020 have cultivated two to three leading industries, with a total output value exceeding 1.7 trillion yuan ($230 billion). By enhancing the quality and efficiency of these industries, a stable income source is ensured for those lifted out of poverty.
As of the end of 2024, the number of employed people from poverty-stricken areas reached 33.05 million, maintaining a stable level above 30 million for four consecutive years.
Meanwhile, China is improving its multi-level social security system to ensure that individuals lifted out of poverty receive continuous support in education, healthcare, housing and other areas.
These efforts have yielded significant achievements in preventing a relapse into poverty.
By the end of November 2024, a total of 5.34 million people at risk of lapsing into poverty had been assisted, effectively eliminating the risk. In the first three quarters of 2024, the per capita disposable income of farmers in poverty-stricken counties reached 12,384 yuan, a year-on-year increase of 6.5 percent, with the growth rate exceeding that of the national rural residents' income for four consecutive years.
Looking ahead
The "No. 1 central document" for 2025 issued on Sunday, which is the first policy statement released by China's central authorities this year, called for coordinating the establishment of a mechanism to prevent lapse and relapse into poverty, as well as creating a categorized assistance system for low-income residents and underdeveloped regions in rural areas.
The country will make every effort to enhance agricultural efficiency, invigorate rural areas and increase farmers' income, thereby laying a solid foundation for advancing Chinese modernization, the document stressed.
Next year marks the end of the five-year transition period, but China remains committed to shielding its population against poverty.
China will not hit the brakes on its support policies after the transition period, Han Wenxiu, executive deputy director of the Office of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs, said at a press conference on Monday.
Instead, the country will refine support policies for low-income residents and underdeveloped areas, he said.
Safeguarding the bottom line to prevent large-scale lapse or relapse into poverty is not a task only for 2025, Han added. "The bottom line must be upheld persistently and permanently."
