SPECIAL REPORT: China issues white paper on poverty reduction

Governments issue white paper reports all the time but when China, home to 1.3 billion people issues such a report, the world takes notice. On Wednesday, the government publicized a white paper on its efforts to reduce poverty throughout the past decade praising achievements, and identifying challenges as China endeavors to bring prosperity to its people.

BEIJING, CHINA (Catholic Online) -"New Progress and Development-oriented Poverty Reduction Program for Rural China" is the rather lengthy name for the 36 page document. The paper discusses China's policies, programs, international efforts, and achievements as it struggles against poverty. This is the second such document on poverty in that country, the first was issued in 2001.

The paper immediately acknowledges the difficulties of reducing poverty in China because it is so widespread and entrenched particularly in rural areas. The paper claims that the population of rural poor dropped from 94.22 million at the end of 2000 to just 26.88 million at the end of 2010. If these numbers are correct, they are the same as if the entire nation of France were lifted out of poverty.

China raised its poverty line in 2010 to an amount which is equivalent to US$200 per year.

The paper also claims that the fundamental problems of providing food, clothing, and sustenance to its rural residents, has been solved. 

The paper also claims that literacy has gone up, with only 7 percent of the population now considered illiterate. The paper further says, "The Chinese government has always made poverty reduction an important goal and task of national development...and worked hard to enable all the people to enjoy the fruits of economic and social development."

Programs that were begun in the 1980s to promote what is referred to as "social harmony," as well as stability, fairness, and justice have contributed both to development in the region as well as improvements in human rights.

The paper does acknowledge that China is still a developing nation, with low per-capita income and that more efforts must be made to improve the quality of life, particularly in rural areas.

The paper pledges that development oriented poverty reduction programs will continue to be a long-term assignment for the Chinese government.

The paper also credits nearly $1.4 billion in American aid dedicated to poverty reduction with alleviating poverty for nearly 20 million people in 20 provinces and regions.

The Chinese government is aware of the fact that while national strength has been substantially improved over the past decade, there remain deep-seated obstacles to overcome. Despite the emphasis on development programs in rural areas, many of those areas remain underdeveloped.
The government plans to issue another report in 2020 to update the progress on its fight against poverty.

The paper concludes by saying that China is also keen on cooperating with the international community on poverty reduction efforts. The ultimate goal is to create "a beautiful and poverty free world where people enjoy common prosperity."

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However has the world population continues to boom, even in China, and resources become increasingly scarce this will clearly be a behemoth challenge for a behemoth nation.

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