In light of the first Poverty Relief Day in China on Oct. 17, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged authorities to continue the intensive fight against poverty in the country.
In a teleconference on the day itself, Xi instructed government authorities to make all social forces work hard in fighting the war against poverty in impoverished regions in China.
The president added that the country should keep on generating ideas and innovative measures to succor poor citizens from their economic plight.
From 1978 to 2010, the Chinese government had saved 660 million citizens from poverty. As of 2013, over 80 million citizens located in rural areas are still within the grips of poverty, according to government data.
Citizens from rural areas who only have $374.54 as annual net income per capita are considered poor as per 2011 standards.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that the government's task of saving citizens from poverty has reached a new phase that requires more serious reforms and innovative measures.
"We should bring together social support to crack the hard nut and win the war," Li said.
During the same conference, Vice Premier Wang Yang, who heads the anti-poverty force, said that the local force must use various social platforms to round up more aid for poor Chinese citizens.