Poverty Alleviation in China：Achievements and Challenges Prof. Zhang Chongfu Institute for Daoist and Religious Culture Studies, Sichuan University 20 Jun 2019 Brussels

Content 1. China’s achievements in poverty alleviation 2. Poverty Alleviation Model of China 3. The challenges of poverty alleviation in China 4. Conclusion

1. China’s achievements in poverty alleviation (1) more than 800 million people reduced poverty according to China’s national poverty line. （State Statistic Bureau) (2) the rural poverty-stricken population was reduced to 30.46 million by the end of 2017, with the poverty rate dropping from 97.5% in 1978 to 3.1% at the end of 2017

(3) According to the 1.9 dollars poverty line, from 1981 to 2013, China lifted 850 million people out of poverty, with the percentage of people living in extreme poverty falling from 88% to 1.85%. The rate of poverty dropped from 97.5% in 1978 to 3.1% at the end of 2017, creating a Chinese miracle in the history of poverty reduction

The World Bank’s data As of 2018, the official poverty rate stands at 1.7 percent of the rural population. The World Bank estimates that, by 2015, poverty rates in China are 0.7 percent, 7.0 percent and 27.2 percent under the International, Lower Middle Income Class, and the Upper Middle Income Class poverty lines, respectively.

(5) China has contributed to over 70% of the poverty reduced across the world, making itself a country with the most people lifted out of poverty in the world. China’s Contribution to Global Poverty Reduction

Nicholas Rosellini, UN resident coordinator (Oct.28,2017) China's achievements in poverty reduction are unprecedented.

The praise that has been received World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim says “China‘s poverty reduction effort is historic”.(Oct. 12, 2017）

UN document: Our Common Goal March 15, 2018 China’s incredible achievement of lifting more than 800 million people out of poverty has received global recognition. Having already accomplished so much, China remains determined to set a high bar and is now pursuing two new ambitious poverty alleviation goals.

The first, to eliminate absolute income poverty by 2020, ten years ahead of the global 2030 Sustainable Development Goal target and, the second, to then redefine and further reduce poverty to a level commensurate with China’s vastly improved level of development.

Aiming to eliminate poverty by 2020 as scheduled Identified as one of "three tough battles" for economic policy in 2018, it is also central to the commitment of the Chinese government to deliver a "moderately prosperous society" by 2021—when CPC’s100th anniversary. 

2.Poverty Alleviation Model of China (1) Targeted Interventions A. Dibao Programme B. Targeted poverty alleviation (2) Institutional Framework (by devising a detailed and well-thought-out institutional framework) (3) The financial support

Targeted poverty alleviation (TPA) was first raised by Xi Jinping in November 2013, officially adopted by the Chinese government in 2014.  Be summarized as: accurate identification, accurate assistance, accurate management and accurate assessment.

(2) Institutional Framework A.Documentation and Card Establishment B. Involvement of Local Officials C. Benefits of Involving Local Governments D. Scheduled in Implementation(2020) E. The double-sided pressure on Govt Officials

A. Documentation and Card Establishment In 2014, more than 800,000 people were organized to enter villages and households. A total of 128,000 poor villages, 29,480,000 poor households and 89,620,000 poor people were identified. (a unified national information system for poverty alleviation was established）.

(3) The financial support

Poverty Reduction Funds poverty reduction funds allocated under the central government budget ran to Rmb282.2bn (US$41.7bn) in 2013–17, more than double the level of the previous five years, with big jumps in 2016 and 2017.

3. Future challenges for China’s Poverty Alleviation (1) Multidimensional Poverty and Poverty Targeting (2) ‘Transitional Poverty’ in the Process of Urban-Rural Integration (3) Governance Mechanisms: An Important Factor Influencing the Poverty Issue in the Future (4) Climate Change and Environmental Deterioration: The Causes of Poverty as Defined by Vulnerability

4. Recommendations for Responding to These Challenges (1)Poverty alleviation is an extremely complex undertaking that requires in-depth research and drawing wisdom from other countries' experiences and Chinese traditions (2) In order to find the intrinsic driving force of poverty alleviation and sustain poverty alleviation, we need bottom-up non-governmental forces, such as NGOs and religious groups, to participate in it.

A Chinese proverb Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

Thank you!