China is ramping up efforts to provide regular and targeted assistance to ensure the sustainable development of people who have been lifted out of poverty, officials with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Thursday.
As the country moves beyond the transitional period following its elimination of absolute poverty and advances the rural vitalization initiative, a normalized system of targeted support has been implemented to prevent people from slipping back into poverty while strengthening long-term development capacity.
"At present, we are guiding local authorities to implement regular targeted assistance measures to consolidate and expand poverty alleviation gains, while firmly preventing large-scale relapse into poverty," said Xu Jianmin, director of the ministry's department of assistance, at a news conference organized by the State Council Information Office.
Since 2021, when China announced victory in its fight against poverty, authorities have been focused on ensuring that the gains are sustainable by combining income support with development-oriented measures that help rural households build their own capacity for growth.
An early monitoring and response mechanism has been established to identify households at risk of falling back into poverty. The system assesses factors such as income and expenditure, housing and education security, healthcare access, and the ability to cope with emerging risks.
Through voluntary reporting by farmers, routine local inspections, and early warning screenings by government departments, assistance can be delivered quickly once risks are detected, Xu said.
"We have worked to simplify procedures and shorten identification time so that potential problems can be discovered early and assistance can be provided early," he said, adding that monitoring standards are adjusted each year.
Tailored policies have also been applied to individual households. For those with the ability to work, authorities prioritize development-oriented support, including job opportunities, industrial development projects, and vocational skills training.
Such measures are intended to strengthen "endogenous development capacity", enabling rural residents to not only receive assistance but generate sustainable income.
The approach combines the idea of "offering a fish" with "teaching how to fish", emphasizing both immediate support and long-term self-reliance, Xu said.
According to Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Maierdan Mugaiti, employment and financial support measures continue to support rural income stability. During the first quarter this year, authorities issued 10.13 billion yuan ($1.48 billion) in small loans to support production activities among assisted households, he said.
Meanwhile, households lacking the capacity to work are incorporated into the social assistance system and provided with comprehensive social security benefits to guarantee their basic living needs.
Support is also being directed toward less-developed regions, Xu said. Key counties designated for rural vitalization will continue to receive policy support in areas such as finance, land use, infrastructure, and talent programs, helping them gradually strengthen their self-development capacity and narrow regional development gaps.
Cooperation mechanisms between eastern regions and western areas will remain an important part of the assistance system, including partnerships such as that between East China's Fujian province and Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region.
Financial support, technical assistance, and corporate participation have helped develop industries such as Tan sheep farming and goji berry cultivation, Xu said.
Companies from Fujian have also identified new business opportunities through the partnership, allowing both sides to benefit while fostering industrial growth in Ningxia, he added.
