Empathy and tough measures underpin poverty relief efforts

Last month, 77-year-old Chen Kaizhi made his 101st trip to Baise, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, to carry on his 21 years of poverty relief efforts in the city.

Chen first visited in 1996. Then executive vice-mayor of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, he was tasked with helping Baise in its poverty relief work, following the central government's decision that the more developed eastern part of the country should support the underdeveloped western part.

"It was like a different world," Chen said.