KUNMING, June 24 -- Yunnan, China's most ethnically-diverse province, on Wednesday vowed to roll out specific measures to make ethnic minorities richer, which is essential for the country's poverty reduction.

With the country's second largest number of people living below the poverty line, about 40 percent of Yunnan's 5.7 million poor are from ethnic minority groups, according to the provincial government.

Yunnan Communist Party of China secretary Li Jiheng said specific plans on poverty reduction would help the 15 ethnic minorities that are exclusive to the southwestern province.

Li said efforts would revolve around state-owned enterprises and social associations.

The plans would be based on a successful project with the Dulong ethnic group, Li said.

Around 6,900 Dulong live in a remote mountain town that borders Myanmar. Since 2010, the central and local governments have assigned 1.3 billion yuan (210 million U.S. dollars) to improve infrastructure, foster new industries and protect the environment.

The government said the Dulong now live in a much better life.