China to step up anti-poverty drive
(CCTV)
Updated: 2005-03-12 13:59

Poverty experts from China's non-communist parties have been sharing with the country's top advisory body the results of a relief project in the southwest of the country. The pilot program began in 1998 in Bijie, a poor farming region in Guizhou Province.

It's the 17th year that China's 8 non-communist parties have been engaged in the Bijie Poverty-Relief project. Every year, a consulting team comprising up to 20 experts from these parties volunteer to help implement plans for Bijie's development.

Their major tasks are to alleviate poverty, improve the ecological environment, and control population growth.

By taking advantage of their talent and information resources, as well as their wide network in diversified sectors, the non-communist parties have contributed to local development by introducing investment, training local staff, and building schools.

Chang Jingshi, CPPCC member, said, "The consulting group uses its networks and resources rather than money to implement the poverty-relief project. It's a good form of efficiency, using little money, and doing a lot of business."

Some other experts said that focussing on local resources is the key to help the people become better-off. Improving efficiencies in coal mining and water conservation, as well as introducing new crops for non-traditional markets, for example, growing flowers.

An NPC deputy from Bijie said the pilot poverty-relief project is a good trial to build social harmony. Gu Jiu, NPC deputy, said, "The help from the non-communist parties is a way to incorporate multi-party cooperation into our socialist construction. Or in other words, it's a way to incorporate political harmony with economic harmony."

The government has been adopting more and more concrete measures to alleviate poverty. In a major policy announcement of his government work report, Premier Wen Jiabao, pledged that students from poor farming families will enjoy free education. And the elimination of poverty has been listed in the government's scheme to build a harmonious society.

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