Alibaba to help fight poverty in Chongqing

E-commerce firm to help build 10 model counties in the nation

China's e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd on Thursday announced a plan to help rural people in southwest China's Chongqing escape poverty - part of the country's overall effort to eradicate poverty by 2020.

This move followed the company's announcement last month that it will set up a 10 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) special fund to promote prosperity in China's rural areas.