United focus urged for poverty relief

China will adhere to the current criteria for determining the size of its poor population and enhance poverty relief policies to ensure extreme poverty is eliminated by 2020, a government official said on Monday.

The central government released a document in 2015 saying that in order for people to qualify for government assistance, they should meet five criteria or have an annual income under 2,300 yuan ($335), as set in 2010, and adjusted annually for purchasing power parity.

If their annual income exceeds this amount, but they still cannot afford either sufficient food and clothing, transporting their children to school for nine years of compulsory free education, basic housing or healthcare needs, they can still receive government aid.