Wang Xueren, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Yunnan Provincial Committee, said though many local people had left poverty behind in recent years, poverty eradication still remained a serious task for the province due to natural or historical reasons.

Of the 43 million people in the province, one fourth was still poverty stricken. Peasants earned an average income of 1,500 yuan (US$180) every year, 700 yuan (US$84.6) below the national average.

The poorest among the population mainly live in the ethnic and border areas and regions disadvantaged by their natural conditions.

The province has launched a new round of projects to eradicate poverty, aiming to help 100 ethnic poor areas, 5,000 poor villages and relocate one million people.

(Xinhua News Agency December 2, 2002)