As the Communist Party of China (CPC) marks its 105th anniversary this year, the world’s second-largest power highlights the elimination of extreme poverty as one of its most significant development achievements. The Party, particularly, attributes this success to decades of people-centred governance and sustained national planning.
China became the first country to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of ending extreme poverty, reaching this milestone ten years ahead of the 2030 deadline.
Chinese officials and analysts note that the achievement stemmed from long-term leadership of the CPC and the policies championed by President Xi Jinping, which placed improving people’s livelihoods at the heart of national development. They assert that the Party’s mission has consistently focused on enhancing living standards, narrowing development gaps, and ensuring the benefits of economic growth reach all sections of society.
Poverty eradication became a top national priority following the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012. Under President Xi Jinping’s leadership, China launched an intensive eight-year poverty alleviation campaign that concluded in 2020, officially eliminating extreme poverty that had persisted for centuries.
To consolidate these gains, the government introduced a five-year transition period from 2021 to 2025, maintaining key support measures for formerly impoverished areas to prevent households from falling back into poverty, while simultaneously promoting sustainable economic development.
According to national statistics, per capita disposable income in formerly impoverished areas reached 10,627 yuan in 2025, with annual income growth averaging 8.2 per cent, outperforming the average growth rate in other rural regions.
Beginning this year, China has integrated its poverty reduction programme with its broader rural revitalisation strategy. This initiative seeks to modernise agriculture, strengthen rural industries, improve infrastructure and public services, and raise living standards across the countryside.
A cornerstone of China’s campaign was its targeted poverty alleviation strategy, introduced under President Xi Jinping. This approach emphasised identifying each impoverished household, understanding the specific causes of poverty, and delivering tailored assistance based on local needs.
To support the programme, China established a nationwide poverty information system. This system enabled authorities to identify and register poor households, assess the causes of poverty, and implement targeted interventions.
Government assistance extended beyond direct financial support to include vocational training, education, healthcare, improved housing, and employment opportunities, helping households build sustainable livelihoods and achieve long-term economic independence.
The CPC also established partnerships between more developed provinces and less-developed regions to promote investment, industrial development, technology transfer, and skills training. Chinese authorities state that this collaboration helped reduce regional disparities and ensured no community was left behind.
As the Party commemorates 105 years since its founding, the CPC presents the elimination of extreme poverty as one of its defining achievements under its long-term development strategy. China asserts that this experience demonstrates how sustained political commitment, targeted policies, and people-centred development can contribute to reducing poverty while advancing broader rural revitalisation, offering practical lessons for countries pursuing inclusive development.
