China reports poverty fight gains, income growth

Rural residents in counties lifted out of poverty saw their per capita disposable income rise to 18,627 yuan ($2,772) in 2025, up from 12,588 yuan in 2020, as China consolidates gains in its fight against poverty, according to a State Council report.

The report on consolidating poverty alleviation achievements and advancing rural vitalization was submitted for deliberation at the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, which opened on Tuesday.

Delivered by Maierdan Mugaiti, vice-minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the report details that these counties have seen an average annual growth rate of 8.2 percent.

Development-oriented assistance has been highlighted in the report, with industries and employment playing a key role in driving growth.

More than 60 percent of central government funds earmarked to support rural vitalization have been used for industrial development. All 832 counties that were lifted out of poverty have developed two to three distinctive industries with local advantages, generating a combined annual output of more than 2 trillion yuan, according to the report.

Nearly three-quarters of people lifted out of poverty have established mechanisms linking their interests with new types of agricultural businesses, helping them share in the benefits of industrial development.

Employment among people lifted out of poverty has also remained stable. Their employment numbers have stayed above 30 million for five consecutive years, supported by expanded employment policies and labor-service programs.

More than 130,000 rural craftspeople have been trained, while more than 4 million people lifted out of poverty have found work through public welfare positions, the report said.

Regional cooperation has further strengthened support for rural development. Eight eastern provinces have paired with 10 western provinces to promote complementary industries, personnel exchanges and technology sharing.

During the transition period, eastern provinces provided more than 110 billion yuan in fiscal assistance to their western counterparts, while companies invested more than 750 billion yuan in those regions.

Despite these achievements, the report warned that the risk of people falling back into poverty will persist and that less-developed areas still face weak foundations for growth.

Rural depopulation and population aging have become more pronounced. Problems such as low utilization of age-friendly facilities and insufficient supplies of elderly care services have emerged.

In some areas, rural residents have limited access to cultural and recreational activities, while some households lack sufficient motivation for self-development. More efforts are also needed to address difficulties in promoting changes in outdated customs and practices in rural areas, the report said.

Looking ahead, China will incorporate regular assistance into its rural vitalization strategy, focusing on households at risk of falling back into poverty and less-developed areas after the transition period ends.

The government will promote development-oriented assistance to strengthen local capacity for self-sustaining growth while improving social security systems to safeguard basic livelihoods, the report said.

It called for longer-term policy support, more standardized assistance measures and more efficient management to consolidate poverty alleviation gains and steadily advance rural vitalization.

zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn