Xinjiang lifts 645,000 out of poverty in 2019

A man and his wife rest in their house at Qushou Village of Saybag Township in Moyu County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Nov. 21, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge)

In 2020, Xinjiang aims to eradicate absolute poverty by lifting the remaining 165,000 people out of poverty and taking 10 counties off the poverty list.

URUMQI, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- A total of 645,000 people were estimated to cast off poverty in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in 2019.

About 976 poverty-stricken villages and 12 impoverished counties in Xinjiang shook off poverty last year, according to the regional government work report delivered at the regional annual legislative session.

In 2019, nearly 37.6 billion yuan (about 5.41 billion U.S. dollars) was allocated to improve the drinking water and housing security in the region, benefitting 346,000 poor people without access to safe drinking water and 9,355 impoverished households living in dilapidated houses.

During the 13th Five-year Plan period (2016-2020), Xinjiang identified the relocation of the poor from inhospitable areas as a key battle against poverty. One year ahead of schedule, the region completed the relocation program and moved a total of 169,400 residents to places with better living conditions.

In 2020, Xinjiang aims to eradicate absolute poverty by lifting the remaining 165,000 people out of poverty and taking 10 counties off the poverty list.