Chinese vice premier urges poverty relief via industrial development

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang (Center) speaks at a national poverty reduction teleconference in Beijing, capital of China, May 23, 2016. Wang Yang said Monday that China aims to lift more than 30 million rural residents out of poverty from 2016 to 2020 through industrial development. [Xinhua/Pang Xinglei]

BEIJING - Vice Premier Wang Yang said Monday that China aims to lift more than 30 million rural residents out of poverty from 2016 to 2020 through industrial development.

In a national poverty reduction teleconference, Wang asked officials to develop industries according to local conditions and engage the poor people in these industries so that they can share the benefits.

Local governments should spend more on poverty relief-related industrial development, improve financial support, and create an enabling market environment for these industries.

At the end of 2014, China had 70 million people living below the nation's poverty line of 2,300 yuan (about $354 ) in annual income, almost all of whom live in the countryside.

China aims to eliminate poverty by 2020 when its 13th Five-Year Plan is completed.