The top leadership of the Communist Party of China pledged on Monday to increase its efforts to eliminate poverty in rural areas and defeat regional poverty by 2020.

Hosted by President Xi Jinping, the meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee decided to pull 50 million people out of poverty in five years through industry support, labor migration and education.

More than 20 million people who have lost or partially lost the capacity to work will be included in the rural subsistence allowance system.

According to the State statistics bureau's data in 2014, the rural poverty line in China was 2,800 yuan ($438) per year.

Since China launched its reform and opening-up policy more than three decades ago, over 700 million people in rural areas have been lifted out of poverty, according to a statement at the meeting. Since the 18th Party Congress in 2012, China has been putting more effort into eliminating poverty by taking targeted measures to ensure that assistance reaches poverty-stricken villages and households.

The meeting appealed for enhanced infrastructure construction in poor regions. Old revolutionary base areas - remote mountainous areas where revolutionary forces first operated before 1949 - should be specifically supported.

Regions inhabited by ethnic minorities, border areas and areas suffering overall extreme poverty should also get priority.

Increasing financial support to the poor, as well as encouraging financial institutions to participate in the process, were also advocated.

Poverty relief has entered a difficult stage, like "cracking a hard nut", according to the statement, but the relief is essential for building a well-off society, improving people's well-being and is also critical for the Party's ruling foundation and national security.

The meeting also discussed the development of Party schools - institutions of training for senior and middle-ranking Party officials - adding that having highly qualified party members is the precondition of realizing the goal of building a well-off society.

pengyining@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 11/24/2015 page5)