Poverty Alleviation in Contiguous Poor Areas with Particular Difficulties

The Executive Meeting of the State Council held on March 16, 2012 made it one of the seven important tasks of the State Council this year "to comprehensively promote the poverty alleviation in contiguous poor areas according to the new standards". From May 25 to 27, Premier Wen Jiabao personally visited Xiangxi of Hunan Province, carried out a field research and gave guidance on the poverty alleviation and development work in Wuling Mountain Area, held a forum, delivered an important speech and put forward specific requirements for the anti-poverty work in contiguous impoverished areas nationwide. To this end, LGOP Party Leadership Group gave top priority to key-problem tackling for poverty reduction in contiguous poor areas this year. According to the work plan, in conjunction with the National Development and Reform Commission, LGOP earnestly accelerated the planning formulation, started the implementation of the relevant programs, promoted the contacts with contiguous poor areas and achieved remarkable results.

I. Fully completed planning formulation for regional development and poverty alleviation in contiguous poor areas and started the implementation of the relevant programs

Based on the formulation and implementation of the planning for pilot projects of poverty reduction in Wuling Mountain Area in 2011, in conjunction with Department of the Western Development and Department of Regional Development of the National Development and Reform Commission, continuing to adopt the "double-leadership" mode, according to the guiding ideology of ​​"promoting poverty alleviation and development by regional development and accelerating regional development by poverty alleviation and development", the Department of Planning and Finance and the Foreign Capital Project Management Center spared no pains to organize the formulation of the regional development and poverty reduction planning of other ten contiguous poor areas, completed planning formulation for seven contiguous poor areas, namely Wumeng Mountain Area, Qinba Mountain Area, Guangxi-Guizhou-Yunnan Contiguous Poor Area, Liupan Mountain Area, Southern Foot of Daxing'anling Mountain Area and Yanshan-Taihang Mountain Area, and obtained approval from the State Council. Plus Wuling Mountain Area, we have completed planning formulation for a total of 8 contiguous impoverished areas. On February 23, May 10, June 28, August 23 and December 3, 2012, the kick-off meeting for Wumeng Mountain Area, Qinba Mountain Area, Guangxi- Guizhou-Yunnan Contiguous Poor Area, Liupan Mountain Area and Western Yunnan Contiguous Poor Area was respectively convened in Zhaotong of Yunnan, Guangyuan of Sichuan, Xingyi of Guizhou, Dingxi of Gansu and Pu’er of Yunnan. Vice Premier Hui Liangyu attended the events and delivered important speeches and CCTV news reported the meetings, causing good social repercussions. The planning for Lvliang Mountain Area, Dabie Mountain Area and Luoxiao Mountain Area was submitted to the State Council in mid-November for approval after seeking advice from provincial and municipal governments and the relevant ministries and holding a forum of experts. We successfully completed the task of developing planning for all contiguous impoverished areas by the end of 2012 according to the requirements of the State Council, laying a good foundation and winning valuable time for further promoting the anti-poverty work in contiguous poor areas.

II. Strengthened guidance and issued guiding opinions on the preparation of provincial implementation plans

In accordance with the requirements of Vice Premier Hui Liangyu, while preparing the planning for contiguous poor areas, LGOP also strengthened supervision and guidance on the formulation of implementation plans of various provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. With approval of the State Council, LGOP issued the "Circular Concerning Relevant Issues on Planning Formulation for Tibet, the Tibetan Areas of Four Provinces and Southern Xinjiang" and clarified relevant requirements for planning formulation for above three contiguous poor areas. In addition, LGOP developed the "Guidance on the Formulation of Provincial Implementation Plans for Regional Development and Poverty Alleviation in Contiguous Poor Areas with Particular Difficulties" jointly with the National Development and Reform Commission and officially issued the document in August 2012, requiring the relevant provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities to develop the provincial implementation plans according to the requirements within three months after the planning for contiguous poor areas is approved to ensure the implementation of the tasks of the planning. From October 10 to 11, 2012, LGOP and the National Development and Reform Commission jointly held the "Training on the Formulation of Implementation Plans for Contiguous Poor Areas Nationwide and the Exchange of Experience". Relevant comrades responsible for the formulation of planning for contiguous poor areas from the poverty alleviation offices and development and reform commissions of 20 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, where the 13 contiguous poor areas are located, as well as Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps participated in the training and exchanged their experiences and practices in the preparation of the implementation plans.

(Department of Planning and Finance, LGOP)

 

Establish the Mechanism for Contacting the Contiguous Poor Areas

 

To strengthen the inter-provincial coordination between contiguous poor areas so as to form a strong joint force for key-problem tackling, the central government decided to establish the mechanism for central ministries to contact the contiguous poor areas, which is a major innovation in poverty alleviation and development work in the new stage.

13 ministries have been designated to contact 11 contiguous poor areas. To strengthen the guidance and standardize the contacts with contiguous poor areas, LGOP drafted the "Circular on the Formulation of Work Rules for the Relevant Units to Contact the Contiguous Poor Areas" and issued the document in the name of the State Council Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development, clarifying the responsibilities, main tasks and job requirements of the liaison units. In addition, LGOP issued to each liaison unit "A Letter about the Liaison with the Contiguous Poor Areas" and "A Letter about the Announcement of the Name List of the Ministries and Provincial (Autonomous Regional and Municipal) Units and Personnel Responsible for Contacting the Contiguous Poor Areas".

The liaison units of the contiguous poor areas attached great importance to the mission, carefully developed the planning and quickly took actions. Focusing on the tasks of communication, coordination, investigation, research, supervision and guidance, they actively contacted the contiguous poor areas and achieved initial results: First, carried out field survey in the contiguous areas to make clear the basic situation and put forward relevant suggestions; Second, participated in the planning formulation of the contiguous poor areas; Third, made preparations for the holding of the kick-off meeting of the contiguous poor areas; Fourth, convened an inter-ministerial meeting on the liaison with the contiguous poor areas to accelerate the regional development and poverty reduction in the contiguous poor areas; Fifth, intensified support and introduced preferential policies and measures. Sixth, sent temporary cadres to promote the implementation of the planning for the contiguous poor areas.

(Department of Planning and Finance, LGOP)

 

Carry out Special Inspection on the Key-problem Tackling for Poverty Alleviation in the Contiguous Poor Areas

 

Key-problem tackling for poverty alleviation in the contiguous poor areas was one of the key targets of the inspection work of the State Council in 2012.

In mid-May 2012, the State Council sent six inspection teams to carry out supervision and inspection on the implementation of the pro-poor policies in Hubei, Hunan, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan, where Wuling Mountain Area and Wumeng Mountain Area are located, covering the establishment and improvement of the poverty alleviation and development responsibility system, the implementation of the poverty alleviation and development planning of the contiguous poor areas, the investment, use and management of anti-poverty funds, the implementation of key special poverty reduction measures in contiguous poor areas, etc.

The inspection teams gave a good appraisal on the implementation of the pro-poor policies in the contiguous impoverished areas and said that we had clear basic ideas for key-problem tackling in poverty reduction of the contiguous poor areas, issued effective policies and achieved good results. The research reports of the six inspection teams were summarized by the General Office of the State Council and LGOP and submitted to the State Council.

Leaders of the State Council, including Wen Jiabao, Li Keqiang, Hui Liangyu and Ma Kai all gave ​​important instructions.

(Department of Planning and Finance, LGOP)

 

Implementation of Regional Development and Poverty Alleviation in Wumeng Mountain Area

 

The State Council Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development convened a meeting in Zhaotong City on February 23, 2012 to officially launch the regional development and poverty alleviation in Wumeng Mountain Area, which will benefit more than 4.7 million poverty-stricken people in Wumeng Mountain Area of Yunnan Province and significantly improve their living standards. By 2020, these people are expected to achieve all-round well-being together with others.

Hui Liangyu, previous member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Vice Premier and Head of the State Council Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development delivered a speech at the meeting and announced the implementation of the regional development and poverty alleviation in Wumeng Mountain Area.

Minister of Land and Resources Xu Shaoshi presided over the kick-off meeting. Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei, Director Yang Jin of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council Ding Xuedong, LGOP Director-General Fan Xiaojian, Deputy Director Du Ying of the National Development and Reform Commission, other department heads of relevant ministries and PLA General Political Department as well as relevant government leaders of Sichuan and Guizhou attended the event.

Yunnan provincial leaders attending the meeting include: Provincial secretary Qin Guangrong, Deputy Provincial Secretary and Governor Li Jiheng, Deputy Provincial Secretary Qiu He, Member of the Standing Committee of CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee, Secretary-General of the Provincial Committee and Vice Governor Cao Jianfang, Vice Governor Kong Chuizhu and Secretary-General of the Provincial Government Ding Shaoxiang.

The conference announced the "Approval of the State Council on the Regional Development and Poverty Alleviation Planning of Wumeng Mountain Area (2011-2020)” and described the formulation of the "Planning" and its main content.

Hui Lianghui pointed out that with a large impoverished area in deep poverty, Wumeng Mountain Area has complex phenomena of poverty and various poverty situations and is a hard nut to crack in poverty alleviation. It is not only an urgent need to enhance the well-being of local residents, but also a strategic choice to promote the Western Development and accelerate the coordinated and sustainable development of various regions to boost the economic and social development in Wumeng Mountain Area. We must carefully organize the implementation of the planning and steadily push forward the work. First, make innovations to the guiding ideology for poverty alleviation and development and maximize the effect of anti-poverty work through mutual promoting between poverty alleviation and regional development. Second, always adhering to the fundamental starting point and objective of protecting and improving people's livelihood, highlight the main tasks, ensure the poor, especially those in deep poverty will be the first to benefit from the planning implementation, strive to enhance the level of industry development, infrastructure, ecological environment, social undertakings and public services, and speed up traffic bottleneck breaking to fundamentally change the backwardness of the contiguous poor areas and improve the self- development capacity of the poor. Third, give full play to the leading role of Bijie Demonstration Zone and explore a scientific development path for impoverished mountain areas. Fourth, establish the inter-provincial coordination mechanism for Wumeng Mountain Area as soon as possible, combine poverty reduction in contiguous poor areas with inter-provincial coordinated development, break administrative division and play comparative advantage to promote regional integration and coordinated development. Fifth, effectively intensify the organizational leadership, assign tasks to parties concerned, strengthen social participation and take the planning of contiguous poor areas as a platform to put more forces into the poverty reduction in Wumeng Mountain Area.

Hui Liangyu stressed that it is the core of the overall layout of the anti-poverty work in the new stage to take contiguous poor areas with particular difficulties as the main battlefields for poverty alleviation. We must pay close attention to the study of new problems, sum up new experiences, strive to explore new law, and constantly improve the level of poverty alleviation and development in contiguous poor areas. We must improve the working mechanism of the contiguous poor areas as soon as possible, timely summarize the experience of pilot work in Wuling Mountain Area, accelerate the improvement of the mechanisms for organization, coordination, fixed-point liaison, monitoring and assessment, and promptly formulate preferential policies for contiguous poor areas to reflect the principle of "providing timely help and highlighting key points". Meanwhile, we must accelerate the planning formulation for other contiguous poor areas and strive to complete the planning preparation and launch for the contiguous poor areas by the end of this year. With a highly responsible spirit towards the Party and people, we must do a good job of key-problem tackling for poverty reduction in the contiguous poor areas so that the impoverished regions and people will achieve a comprehensive well-off as soon as possible.

In his speech at the meeting, Li Jiheng said that the official launch of the regional development and poverty alleviation planning of Wumeng Mountain Area in Zhaotong City fully reflected the deep concern of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on the masses of Wumeng Mountain Area. Yunnan Province will conscientiously implement the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, strengthen organizational leadership and guidance on planning, and do a good job in the "four tough fights" of infrastructure improvement, cultivation of competitive industries, development of social undertakings and ecological restoration. Meanwhile, the province will make further innovations to the promotion, investment and incentive mechanisms for  poverty alleviation, further deepen regional cooperation and spare no pains for the regional development and poverty reduction in Wumeng Mountain Area.

Government leaders of Sichuan and Guizhou delivered speeches on the construction of demonstration zones for poverty reduction and the leapfrog development of Wumeng Mountain Area.

Wumeng Mountain Area covers 38 counties (cities, districts) in neighboring areas of Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan. In Yunnan Province, Wumeng Mountain Area covers 15 counties (cities, districts) of four prefectures (cities), namely Kunming, Qujing, Zhaotong and Chuxiong, involving 4.7 million poverty-stricken people, and 428,000 people here live in deep poverty with per capita net income less than 785 Yuan. The "Regional Development and Poverty Alleviation Planning of Wumeng Mountain Area (2011-2020)" clarified that the strategic position of this contiguous poor area is an "innovation zone for the overall development of poverty reduction, ecology and population", "an important energy base of the country", "an important channel open to Southwest", "a demonstration zone for national unity and progress" and "an important ecological security barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River" as well.

The "Planning" put forward the development goals of two stages: By 2015, half the number of poverty-stricken people, initially establish the operating mechanism and system in favor of poverty alleviation and the coordinated development of ecology and population, significantly improve the infrastructure such as traffic and water conservancy facilities, accelerate the development of energy industry and featured agriculture in mountain areas, effectively control the rapid growth of population, significantly improve the level of basic public services, the living conditions and quality of life, and achieve significant results in ecological construction and environmental protection. By 2020, keep pace with other domestic regions to basically achieve the goal of building a comprehensive well-off society. Based on the actual situation of the contiguous poor areas, the "Planning" put forward the requirement of function division and spatial layout and developed specific policies on public finance, taxation, banking, investment, industry, land, ecological and resource compensation, assistance, etc.

(Department of Planning and Finance, LGOP)

 

Implementation of Regional Development and Poverty Alleviation in Qinba Mountain Area

 

The kick-off meeting of regional development and poverty alleviation of Qinba Mountain Area was convened in the mountainous hinterland of Guangyuan City in Sichuan Province on May 10, 2012. Hui Liangyu, Member of Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee, Vice Premier and Head of State Council Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development stressed that we must conscientiously implement the deployment of the central government on anti-poverty work, increase investment, strengthen coordination, focus on the development of competitive industries with local characteristics and implement a number of livelihood projects to greatly improve people’s production and living conditions, aiming to comprehensively accelerate the poverty reduction in contiguous poor areas and fundamentally change the backwardness of impoverished areas as soon as possible. We must carefully organize the implementation of the regional development and poverty alleviation planning of Qinba Mountain Area and do a few practical things every year to solve bottlenecks and outstanding contradictions, aiming to turn the grand blueprint into a bright reality step by step and really benefit the masses in impoverished regions.

Hui Liangyu pointed out that Qinba Mountain Area covers a lot of old revolutionary bases, a large reservoir area, disaster areas of Wenchuan earthquake and many natural disaster-prone areas. In accordance with the guiding ideology of "promoting poverty alleviation and development by regional development and accelerating regional development by poverty alleviation and development", we must concentrate on promoting the regional development and poverty alleviation in this contiguous poor area. First, pay attention to environmental protection, consolidate and expand the results of returning farmland to forests and ensure the safety of water resource in the middle line of the South-to-north Water Diversion Project. Second, promote an orderly relocation and adhere to the principle of mass voluntary, measure adjustment to local conditions and scientific planning to ensure that people will be able to immigrate, afford the cost for relocation, settle down and get rich. Third, strengthen labor force training and improve service brand awareness to promote the transition of labor transfer from spontaneous transfer of a large number of labors to organized transfer of high quality. Fourth, further develop competitive industries with local characteristics. Based on regional strengths and resources, we must adhere to market-oriented principle to help poor farmers increase income and shake off poverty. Fifth, mobilize the enthusiasm of various parties and encourages the masses to participate in poverty alleviation and development.

Hui Liangyu stressed that it is a major innovation and a distinctive characteristic of the poverty alleviation and development work in the new stage to take contiguous poor areas with particular difficulties as the main battlefields for poverty alleviation. Relevant regions and department must accelerate the planning formulation for other contiguous poor areas, aiming to achieve substantial results of the anti-poverty work in contiguous poor areas. We must give full play to the initiative of local governments and the liaison unit. Party committees and governments at all levels in the contiguous poor areas should conscientiously implement the poverty alleviation and development work system for party and government leaders to take the overall responsibility, and the liaison units of contiguous poor areas must conscientiously perform their duties of communication, coordination, guidance and promotion. We must firmly focus on planning guidance and project implementation, establish the planning target responsibility system and the implementation management mechanism, effectively strengthen support of benefit-the-public policy and preferential policy, constantly issued policies to boost agricultural development and benefit rural areas and farmers, and continue to strengthen the two driving forces of hardworking for improvement and assessment for incentive to ensure the implementation of the anti-poverty objectives and responsibilities as well as poverty-relief effectiveness.

The State Council has approved the "Regional Development and Poverty Alleviation Planning of Qinba Mountain Area (2011-2020)", involving 80 counties (cities, districts) in 17 cities of Henan, Hubei , Chongqing, Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu. Qinba Mountain Area has the largest number of provinces, the largest land area and the biggest internal difference among the 11 contiguous poor areas nationwide.

Sichuan Party Secretary Liu Qibao delivered a speech at the meeting, and Minister of Railways Sheng Guangzu presided over the kick-off meeting.

(Department of Planning and Finance, LGOP)

 

Implementation of Regional Development and Poverty Alleviation in the Rocky Desertification Areas in Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan
 

The State Council Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development held the kick-off meeting of the regional development and poverty alleviation of the rocky desertification areas in Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan in Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in southwest of Guizhou Province on June 28, 2012. Hui Liangyu, Member of Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee, Vice Premier and Head of State Council Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development stressed that we must conscientiously implement the deployment of the central government on poverty alleviation and development work and the spirit of Premier Wen Jiabao’s important speech at the forum on poverty alleviation of Wuling Mountain Area, concentrate on key-problem tackling for poverty reduction in contiguous impoverished areas and make great efforts to solve major problems that hinder development so as to ensure and improve people's livelihood and enhance the effectiveness of poverty alleviation and development. We must seriously organize the implementation of the regional development and poverty alleviation planning for the rocky desertification areas in Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan, and adhere to the combination of poverty alleviation and development and the comprehensive management of rocky desertification to simultaneously promote water conservancy construction, ecological construction and the management of rocky desertification, and embark on a development path characterized by the benign interaction between local economic and social development, poverty alleviation and development and ecological construction.

 Hui Liangyu pointed out that with many old revolutionary bases, minority areas and impoverished regions, the rocky desertification areas in Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan are confronted with poverty problem and the rocky desertification problem at the same time and have fragile ecological environment, so the poverty reduction here is a heavy task in the new round of poverty alleviation. The governments at all levels and relevant departments in this contiguous poor area must make clear local characteristics and comparative advantages, earnestly implement the tasks assigned by the planning and steadily and effectively promote the poverty reduction work in this area according to the principle of "promoting poverty alleviation and development by regional development, and accelerating regional development by poverty alleviation and development". First, focus on the formulation and implementation of the planning at all levels, effectively strengthen the guidance on planning and make clear the sources of funding and project arrangements. Second, make great efforts to protect and improve people's livelihood and give priority to addressing the most realistic and most pressing problems that people are most concerned about to ensure that the poor will be the first to benefit. Third, strive to strengthen water conservancy construction and environmental protection, accelerate the management of rocky desertification, solve engineering water shortage problem, vigorously restore vegetation and explore ways of combining poverty alleviation and development with the management of rocky desertification. Fourth, develop competitive industries with local characteristics, accelerate the construction of a number of featured agricultural production bases, develop a number of tourist routes, create several cultural industries with distinct regional characteristics, rich ethnic customs and strong flavor of the times, and strengthen labor and employment trainings and services to enhance the self-development ability of impoverished areas so as to help farmers increase income and become rich. Fifth, strengthen poverty alleviation and development in the border areas, provide special policy and financial support, intensify the infrastructure construction in border areas and continue to vitalize border areas and enrich the local residents.

Hui Liangyu stressed that differentiated policies must be implemented for poverty reduction in contiguous impoverished areas and we must effectively increase policy support and investment for the contiguous poor areas, develop a number of targeted special policies with real contents for the contiguous poor areas, improve the detailed implementation rules of taxation, finance, land, ecological compensation and personnel policies as well as the supporting measures, further increase financial investment for the contiguous poor areas, establish and improve the basic financial security systems of local counties and guide the investment of credit capital and social funds to contiguous poor areas to increase social assistance. We must vigorously improve the working mechanism in contiguous poor areas, earnestly implement the poverty alleviation responsibility system for the party and government leaders to assume the overall responsibility, strengthen the functions of coordination, supervision and inspection of leading groups for poverty alleviation and development at all levels, and give play to the coordinating, guiding and promoting role of the liaison units of the contiguous impoverished areas to form a strong joint force for the poverty alleviation in the contiguous poor areas. Meanwhile, we should give full play to the role of the masses and cadres in local area and mobilize their initiative and creativity to enhance the inherent vitality of the contiguous impoverished areas.

 The State Council has approved the "Regional Development and Poverty Alleviation Planning of the Rocky Desertification Areas in Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan (2011-2020)", involving 91 counties (districts, cities) of 15 prefectures (cities) in Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan. Among the 14 contiguous poor areas nationwide, this area has the largest number of poverty reduction objects, the largest number of minority people, the largest number of counties and the largest number of ethnic autonomous counties as well.

Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei presided over the event and Guizhou Provincial Party Secretary Li Zhanshu delivered a speech at the meeting. Director Yang Jing of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Guizhou Provincial Governor Zhao Kezhi attended the conference. Relevant comrades from the National Development and Reform Commission, LGOP, the Ministry of Water Resources, the State Forestry Administration, people’s government of Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan as well as the PLA General Political Department delivered speeches at the meeting.

(Department of Planning and Finance, LGOP)

 

Implementation of Regional Development and Poverty Alleviation in Liupan Mountain Area

 

The State Council Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development held the kick-off meeting of the regional development and poverty alleviation of Liupan Mountain Area in Dingxi City of Gansu Province on August 23. Hui Liangyu, Member of Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee, Vice Premier and Head of State Council Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development stressed that we must implement the decisions and deployments of the central government on poverty alleviation and development work in the new stage, take contiguous poor areas as the main battlefields for poverty reduction, increase policy and financial support, and concentrate on addressing bottlenecks that hinder the economic and social development of contiguous poor areas to achieve tangible results in anti-poverty work as soon as possible. We must carefully organize the implementation of the regional development and poverty alleviation planning of Liuman Mountain Area and, starting from the construction of a water-saving society, adhere to the combination of poverty alleviation and development, water conservancy construction, ecological construction and human resources development to embark on a new development path for northwest arid regions to shake off poverty and become rich.



 

 

 

Hui pointed out that the poverty alleviation and development implemented in the "Three West" (Hexi, Dingxi, Xihaigu) area in 1982 is the first large-scale planned, organized development-oriented poverty alleviation action in the history of poverty alleviation and development of China. Under the loving care of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, under the strong leadership of the local party committees and governments, with the spirit of "strong leadership, social support and hardworking of the masses", the people in the "Three West" areas vigorously implemented the strategy of "taking advantage of western regions to promote poverty reduction in central areas" and "finding whatever ways that work" to carry out an anti-poverty battle for three decades and made great achievements. Currently, the ecological environment in the "Three West" areas has been improved remarkably, the production and living conditions have been significantly improved, regional pillar industries have been initially set up, rapid progress has been made in social undertakings, the food and clothing problem has been solved and fundamental changes have taken place to the economic and social situation, rewriting the history of "local residents’ not living on local conditions", making a great contribution to the exploration and expansion of the poverty alleviation and development path with Chinese characteristics.

 Hui Liangyu stressed that in Liupan Mountain Area with Dingxi of Gansu and Xihaigu of Ningxia as the core, including some surrounding areas and some neighboring regions in Shaanxi and Qinghai, regional development and poverty reduction is still an arduous task. The relevant regions and departments should continue to carry forward the "Three West" spirit and work together to implement the planning step by step. First, unswervingly strengthen ecological construction and management, focusing on promoting small watershed management and the comprehensive management of mountains, waters, forests (grassland), farmland and roads. Second, comprehensively accelerate the pace of infrastructure construction and, in particular, make great efforts to break through the bottlenecks of water conservancy and transport. Third, steadily push forward the implementation of ecological migration projects, promote the construction of new immigrant villages, the cultivation of industries and the development of social undertakings, and try to solve the production and living problems of the masses after migration. Fourth, develop featured competitive industries based on local conditions, actively develop high-quality, efficient, modern ecological dry farming and water-saving agriculture, establish a number of high-level circular economy bases, and continue to support the construction of Liupan Mountain Tourism-based Poverty Reduction Experimental Zone. Fifth, vigorously implement poverty alleviation by education, seriously implement the compulsory education policy and related supporting policy measures, implement the "special program for directional enrollment for national poverty alleviation" to effectively block the intergenerational transmission of poverty, and strengthen the practical skills and labor force trainings. Sixth, intensify coordination and cooperation between provinces and strengthen the convergence of inter-provincial major infrastructure projects, industrial layout and economic cooperation. Seventh, increase department support, give priority to Liupan Mountain Area in allocating special construction funds of relevant departments, and give priority to the infrastructure construction projects listed in industrial planning in project examination, approval and implementation.

The State Council has approved the "Regional Development and Poverty Alleviation Planning of Liupan Mountain Area (2011-2020) ", involving 69 counties (districts, cities) of 15 cities (prefectures) in Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai and Ningxia. In these contiguous poor areas, per capita income of farmers is relatively low but the incidence of poverty is high.

Li Shenglin, the Minister of Transport chaired the meeting. Gansu Provincial Party Secretary Wang Sanyun and Director of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission Yang Jing attended the event. Governor of the People's Government of Gansu Province Liu Weiping delivered a speech at the meeting, Party Secretary of the Ministry of Transport Yang Chuantang, Deputy Director of PLA General Political Department Jia Yan’an, Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission Du Ying, LGOP Director-General Fan Xiaojian and the relevant principals of the People's Government of Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai and Ningxia delivered speeches at the meeting.

(Department of Planning and Finance, LGOP)

 

Implementation of Regional Development and Poverty Alleviation in the Contiguous Poor Areas at the Border of Western Yunnan

 

The State Council Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development held the kick-off meeting of the regional development and poverty alleviation of border areas of Western Yunnan in Pu’er City, Yunnan Province on December 3. Hui Liangyu, Member of Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee, Vice Premier and Head of State Council Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development stressed that we must carry out in-depth study of the spirit of the 18^th National Congress of the CPC, earnestly implement the major strategic deployments made by the central government on the poverty alleviation and development in the new stage, accelerate the leapfrog development and the construction of a well-off society in the contiguous poor area, seriously implement the regional development and poverty alleviation of border areas of Western Yunnan, and adhere to the combination of southwest-oriented poverty alleviation and development, the actions to vitalize border areas and enrich the local residents and the strategies to support the development of minorities and minority areas, aiming to embark on a new development path for border minority areas to shake off poverty and become rich.

Hui Liangyu pointed out that the border contiguous poor areas in Western Yunnan are backward in economic and social development, but have unique geographical and resource advantages. It is of great significance to promoting common prosperity of all ethnic groups and border harmony and stability and strengthening ecological construction and environmental protection to concentrate on promoting the regional development and poverty reduction in this contiguous poor area. We must strive to make the border contiguous poor area of Western Yunnan an important gateway for the Southwest, an internationally renowned tourist destination, an important treasure collection of biodiversity, an ecological security barrier in Southwest China, a model area for border stability and national unity and a demonstration area of human resource development for poverty reduction as well.

Hui Liangyu stressed that we should highlight the key areas and key links to ensure the effective implementation of the planning in accordance with the guiding ideology of "promoting poverty alleviation and development by regional development, and accelerating regional development by poverty alleviation and development". First, focus on infrastructure construction, accelerate the construction of a relatively complete transportation system and a powerful water conservancy and power engineering system. Second, strengthen ecological construction and environmental protection to promote the coordination between economic and social development and resources environmental protection. Third, develop competitive industries with local characteristics, accelerate the construction of important export-oriented competitive industrial bases and clean energy bases with local characteristics in West China, promote the development of non-ferrous metal industry and vigorously create tourism brands with local characteristics. Fourth, strive to protect and improve people's livelihood, solve people's housing, travel, drinking water, medical care and schooling problems. Fifth, implement poverty alleviation by developing human resources, actively develop various educational institutions at all levels, organize technical and labor transfer trainings based on local conditions and try to improve the quality and employability of local residents.

Hui Liangyu stressed that we must provide strong support for the regional development and poverty alleviation in the border contiguous poor areas of Western Yunnan, increase policy support and investment for contiguous poor areas, improve the detailed implementation rules of taxation, finance, land, resources compensation and benefit allocation policies as well as the supporting measures, increase central and provincial financial investment for the counties with contiguous poor areas, and give priority to the counties with contiguous poor areas in the allocation of relevant construction funds and projects. We must make active innovations to the forms of social support, make the work really benefit specific towns and villages, encourages various enterprises and social organizations to actively support the development of contiguous poor areas, strive to improve the working mechanisms of the contiguous poor area, establish provincial coordination mechanism, and give full play to the coordination, guidance and promoting role of the liaison units to form a strong joint force to support the poverty reduction of the contiguous poor area.

The State Council has approved the "Regional Development and Poverty Alleviation Planning of the Contiguous Poor Areas at the Border of Western Yunnan (2011-2020) ". The contiguous poor areas at the border of Western Yunnan covers a land area of 209,000 square kilometers and has a population of 17.51 million, respectively accounting for 53% and 38% of the total.

The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Education Yuan Guiren. Yunnan Provincial Party Secretary Qin Guangrong delivered a speech at the conference. Yunnan Provincial Governor Li Jiheng, Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission Du Ying and LGOP Director-General Fan Xiaojian delivered speeches at the meeting. During the meeting, the signing ceremony of the strategic cooperation between ten vocational education groups in the east and ten prefectures and cities in Western Yunnan was convened. Western Yunnan Development Website was simultaneously established.

(Department of Planning and Finance, LGOP)