Poverty relief effort called unprecedented

China has made unprecedented achievements in its fight against poverty since the end of 2012, when poverty alleviation was made a priority task at the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, a top relief official said.

From 2012 to 2016, the number of Chinese living in poverty dropped from 99 million to 43.4 million.

Another group of over 10 million is to be lifted out of poverty this year, said Liu Yongfu, director of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.