Liu Hui, vice chairperson of the People's Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and NPC deputy, confirmed the success of recent poverty alleviation efforts in Ningxia during an exclusive interview with China.org.cn, and pledged that her government would foster the creation of a moderately prosperous society by 2020.

Liu Hui, vice chairperson of the People's Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and NPC deputy, sits with a China.org.cn reporter on March 6, 2013.

"Combating poverty is a formidable challenge in Ningxia, especially in its Xihaigu district, one of China's poorest areas that constantly struggle with drought and harsh weather," says Liu.

Currently, there are one million people living in poverty in Ningxia, who account for one sixth of the area's total population, according to government figures. Among these, 350,000 people live in complete destitution and migrant work should be provided to help them alleviate their suffering, Liu said. The other 650,000 families and individuals will be lifted from poverty through local work programs.

In 2011, Ningxia's regional government announced plans to complete a migration project with an investment of 6.5 billion yuan (US$ 1.05 billion), that will help 350,000 people living in poverty during the next five years. As of now, over 35 percent of the area's poor have been transferred into livable communities and migrant work programs are progressing smoothly, Liu confided.

Irrigation, industrial development, houses, infrastructure and ecological construction programs are in full swing to help improve local residents' living standards, she added.

Liu is confident the Ningxia local government will be able to improve local residents' livelihoods through strengthening poverty alleviation efforts and help the region develop into a moderately prosperous society by 2020.