New poverty line poses new challenges

China raised its poverty line to $1 per person per day in 2011, which is 92 percent higher than the threshold set in 2009.

Under the new standard, China's poverty-stricken population increased from 26.88 million to 128 million, 13.4 percent of its overall rural population.

Raising the poverty line with the development of the economy and society is an international practice. Despite the increase in the size of the poor population, China's absolute poverty population is shrinking by a large margin.

But new poverty line marks the beginning of a new stage for China's fight against poverty.

Food is no longer the biggest challenge. What China's poor people need most is equal access to improve their livelihoods and participate in China's development.

It is better to teach people how to fish than giving them fish.

Fighting against poverty in China, which used to be a special task, should be integrated into the larger project of China's economic and social development.

To some extent, poverty alleviation provides a good opportunity for China to construct a fair and harmonious society, which cannot be realized with a widening income gap.

Besides the special funds for poverty alleviation, authorities at all levels should design well-targeted plans for different poor regions according to local conditions, paying special attention to the protection of the environment for sustainable development.

Translated from China Business News by Li Yang