Li Keqiang on Poverty Alleviation
TL;DR
Li Keqiang strongly supported consolidating poverty alleviation achievements and linking them to broader rural revitalization efforts.
Key Points
In March 2018, he stated China aimed to reduce the poor rural population by over 10 million that year, including relocating 2.8 million people from inhospitable areas.
He announced in March 2021 that counties lifted out of poverty would benefit from a five-year transition period where major assistance policies would remain unchanged.
In January 2022, he called for practical work to improve people's well-being by consolidating the results of poverty alleviation work alongside COVID-19 control.
Summary
Li Keqiang consistently emphasized the need to solidify the successes achieved in the campaign to eradicate absolute poverty, framing this as a critical next step. When delivering his government work report in March 2021, he detailed plans for a five-year transition period for counties newly lifted out of poverty, during which major assistance policies would remain in place to prevent backsliding. He stressed that the rural revitalization strategy must be implemented to consolidate these gains and promote steady agricultural development, thereby increasing rural incomes and enhancing the sustainability of self-development in formerly impoverished areas. The premier has also committed to continuous monitoring and assistance mechanisms to ensure that populations emerging from poverty do not fall back below the line.
His stance positioned poverty alleviation not as a finished project but as a phase transitioning into sustained rural development and general livelihood improvement. This focus included ensuring food security, improving rural living conditions and infrastructure, and ensuring that rural migrant workers receive their wages fully and on time. Furthermore, in early 2022, he continued to stress the need to consolidate poverty alleviation results while coordinating them with ongoing COVID-19 control and general economic development, showing an integrated approach to social stability and individual well-being.
Key Quotes
"China has a large number of micro, small and medium-sized firms and individually run businesses, which directly links to employment and supports the livelihoods of countless families,"
"Poverty alleviation efforts will be carried on through the development of local industries, education, and healthcare,"
Frequently Asked Questions
Li Keqiang's main position was the firm consolidation and expansion of poverty alleviation achievements. He viewed this as a critical phase that must transition into the broader rural revitalization strategy to ensure long-term success and prevent people from falling back into poverty.
Li Keqiang promised that poverty relief policies would remain unchanged for those already lifted out of poverty, indicating a commitment to securing these gains. He further mandated a five-year transition period for formerly impoverished counties to maintain major assistance policies.
Yes, Li Keqiang explicitly linked the consolidation of poverty alleviation to the national rural revitalization strategy. This aimed to enhance the capacity of formerly poor areas for self-development by focusing on agriculture, infrastructure, and income growth.