The Policy Statement by the Chinese Government on Poverty Alleviation and Elimination, issued here at the Global Conference of Scaling Up Poverty Reduction in Shanghai, pledged that China will reinforce investment into the national poverty reduction campaign, including instructing various financial institutions to provide financial services to the impoverished people.

China also expects its national strategy of developing its vast western region and northeast industrial belt to help introduce investment into the country's capital-thirsty regions and boost local economic development.

Non-official organizations and private sectors are also important players in the national fight against poverty, the statement noted.

China will stick to the development strategy for poverty reduction, stressed the statement, vowing that underprivileged people would participate more in poverty reduction policy-making and project implementation process.

According to the statement, arrangements have been made to improve China's social security and assistance systems, including those of health care, education and residence.

Basic life security system will be established soon in some underdeveloped rural regions according to local conditions, the statement noted.

In addition, women and ethic groups will receive preferential treatment during the poverty reduction campaign in the fields of education, employment and health care, the statement said, stressing that equal and favorable conditions should be created for those groups of people to equally participate in the social life.

The Global Conference of Scaling Up Poverty Reduction in Shanghai is convened to exchange poverty relief experiences acquired by different countries and, with this sharing and learning from each other, to promote massive reduction and eradication of poverty.

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2004)