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China has announced plans to relocate more than 9 million impoverished people to less geographically disadvantaged areas in the next five years. The move is part of China's recent efforts to deliver on the government’s goal of eliminating poverty during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020).

According to the plan, which was approved by the State Council, around 9.81 million people from 22 provinces will be relocated. The relocated citizens will be limited to those who live in impoverished regions with unsustainable conditions, and the project will cost around 950 billion RMB, according to Thepaper.cn.

Impoverished regions are divided into four groups, including regions with fragile environment and harsh natural conditions, which 3.1 million individuals call home. Also included are regions with weak infrastructure, where 3.4 million of the citizens in question currently live.

Around 110,000 kilometers of roads and 140,000 kilometers of water pipes will be built for the resettlement, while many new schools and clinics will also be established to meet the migrants’ needs.

In addition to fiscal support from the central government, additional channels will also be used to finance relocation, including local government debts and long-term, low-cost loans, according to the plan.

As of last year, there were around 70 million people living below the poverty line in China, many without access to roads, water or power, Xinhua reported. Lifting them out of poverty by 2020 will be "the most arduous task" on China's path toward a moderately prosperous society, according to a document released by the CCP Central Committee and the State Council in December 2015.