In a bid to overcome its decades-long problem of poverty, this year China will relocate nearly two million people from poverty ridden areas to more developed urban areas. The announcement was made by a leading Chinese official on Tuesday.          

"Many poor people live in harsh conditions or fragile environments. The relocation will help them seek a better life." Liu Yongfu, a member of China's State Council, said.  

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Liu stated that such relocation schemes have achieved success in the past, referring to successful relocation program carried out for farmers living in the northern province of Ningxia in 1990's.

According to local media reports,most of the poor people will be shifted to towns that boast of relatively better public services while others will be relocated to economic development zones or industrial parks.

This massive relocation program marks the first phase of China's ambitious program to relocate nearly 70 million poor people living in backward rural areas to urban cities in next four years. This ambitious program was proposed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in March this year as he vowed to end China's endemic problem of poverty.

Despite the unprecedented economic success achieved by China during the last two decades, poverty is still prevalent across the country. A majority of China's poor population live in rural areas.

Various reasons including growing inequality have been cited as the major reasons for widespread poverty. According to an International Monetary Fund report, China and India have the highest levels of financial inequalities in Asia.

Tagschina, Poverty in China, Poor people in China, Chinese Economy, Eonomic inequality in China