Speech at the China Forum for Poverty Alleviation and Development
October 17, 2005
Vice Governor of Liaoning Province Hu Xiaohua

Distinguished Mrs. Gu Xiulian, Vice Chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee：
Distinguished Mr. Lee Soo Sung, Korean Ex-Premier：
Distinguished Mr. Liu Jian, Director General of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development：
Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen：
　　Today marks the opening of the International Forum on Poverty Reduction in 2005, sponsored by the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development. This grand event coincides with the International Day for Poverty Eradication. Participants from government agencies, relevant offices at various sub-national levels and celebrities from China and abroad who are committed to poverty reduction gathered in this beautiful seaside city of Dalian to discuss China’s poverty reduction efforts, which I think is of great significance. On behalf of the Liaoning Provincial Government, I extend my warmest congratulations to the launch of the forum and my welcome to all our guests here. 
　　Since the establishment of the New China, especially after the reform and opening-up, the Chinese government, in the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, launched a large scaled poverty reduction program in a planned way with great achievements. The consistent reduction of poor population in China is an evidence for the Chinese government’s commitment to enhancing people’s right to subsistence and development and an active contribution to the world development.
　　Entering the new century, the Chinese government determined that poverty reduction in China should be pushed to a new stage during the period between 2001 and 2010. This determination was translated into the promulgation of the Poverty Reduction Program for China Rural Areas(2001-2010). To ensure a smooth implementation of the Program in Liaoning Province, the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the CPC and the Provincial Government put poverty reduction on top of their agenda. They adhere to the guideline of reducing poverty through development and endeavored to mobilize social resources and expand financial input to poverty reduction at various levels. They persist in combining poverty reduction with environmental protection, agricultural restructuring, agriculture commercialization, labor transfer in rural areas, opening to the market at home and abroad, so as to accelerate local efforts in poverty reduction. As a result, the poor population declined from 2.3 million in 2000 to 1.12 million in 2004, and the proportion of the poor in the total rural residents from 10.5% to 5.1%. Additionally, we are exploring to develop a mechanism that ensures sustainability of social relief efforts in rural areas. For example, a rural low income security system and a medical aid system covering the whole province have come into shape, which guarantees the subsistence for poor households living in villages.
　　Now the Province is geared up to learn from the consensus reached by of the just-concluded Fifth Plenary of the Sixteenth CPC Central Committee and put it to the practice of addressing local problems. We will move along with the guideline of combining short-term and long-term goals of poverty reduction, stepping up institutional, technical and organizational innovation, increasing financial input and scientific support and enhancing international exchanges and cooperation. We will lock our target on the low income groups. We will save no energy in the national campaign of poverty reduction, in the construction of a harmonious society and in the process of building a well-off society.
　　In closing, I wish the forum a complete success.
　　Thank you!