Tibet lifted 1,705 villages out of poverty in 2017

Beijing. April 11. Silkroadnews - According to local authorities, last year the Tibet Autonomous Region of Southwest China lifted 1,705 villages out of poverty, Tibet Online reports.
A total of 150,000 people were pulled out of poverty last year, bringing the impoverished population in the region from 590,000 in 2015 to 330,000 last year, the publication reads.
In 2017, 16.7 billion yuan ($2.6 billion) were invested to help local people increase their incomes, and to implement and support more than 1,700 projects to combat poverty in the region.
More than 85% of the land in Tibet is located at an altitude of more than 4000 meters above sea level. Harsh natural conditions have been part of the causes of deep-rooted poverty.
People in 2,440 villages across Tibet still live in poverty, and this year the region plans to invest 11.7 billion yuan to bring another 2,100 villages out of poverty. Tibet is also targeting an annual increase in disposable income for people living under the poverty line by 16%.
The region will also continue to expand social security coverage to improve living conditions for people with disabilities, no income, inability to work, as well as for teenagers under 16 and senior people above 60, the report says.
China aims to bring all citizens out of poverty by 2020 to create a “moderately prosperous society”. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, at the end of last year, about 30 million Chinese people still lived below the national poverty line.