2018 a 'good start' in 3-year anti-poverty drive

The number of rural people grappling with extreme poverty was cut by more than 10 million last year, and about 280 counties dropped their impoverished label, according to China's anti-poverty chief.

Liu Yongfu, director of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, said it is the sixth consecutive year that China has reduced its destitute population by more than 10 million.

"The scale is unprecedented," he said, adding that a total of 80 million rural poor had been lifted out of their situation over the past six years.