Shanxi will commit itself to further poverty alleviation efforts over the coming five years, according to the Party congress held from Oct 31 to Nov 4.

Currently, living standards in Shanxi province are lower than that of developed regions in China. A large proportion of local residents have below-average living standards, with public services and social security systems far from complete.

To reduce poverty, Shanxi will offer more funding and subsidies to local residents in need, particularly in rural areas, and improve the efficiency of fund utilization by distributing funds according to specific local circumstances.

For example, the province will help increase the incomes of urban residents to raise the proportion of people in the middle-income category.

Apart from the government providing financial support, Shanxi will encourage local residents to lift themselves out of poverty, not allowing a culture of welfare dependency to develop in the province. A series of preferential policies will be introduced to make it easier for people to overcome difficult personal circumstances.

Shanxi's efforts at poverty reduction are part of a long term project for the province, with the aim of improving the living standards of some of its poorest residents.