China highlights relocation in battle against poverty

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang (2nd L) attends a video and telephone conference on the relocation of people living in the country's poorest regions, in Beijing, Dec 1, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]?

BEIJING - China should push forward the relocation of people living in the country's poorest regions to deliver its ambitious poverty relief goals, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday.

The central government will increase fiscal support and use more channels to finance relocation projects, while local authorities should ensure housing, healthcare, education and employment for relocated households, according to Li's written instruction for a video and telephone conference on relocation in Beijing.

China plans to lift about 10 million people out of poverty by 2020 through relocation.

Vice Premier Wang Yang urged precise and targeted measures in the process and necessary job training for relocated people in the meeting.

At the beginning of this year, there were 70.2 million people below the poverty line in China and the government has vowed to lift them all out of poverty by 2020.