China Discipline Inspection Daily:

May I ask Mr. Liu Yongfu, how to prevent the falsification and manipulation of numbers in poverty elimination, and how to consolidate the accomplishments of poverty alleviation and prevent people lapsing back into poverty? During the national two sessions in the past two years, you stressed dealing with corruption and undesirable work styles in the poverty alleviation field. So, how do you feel about the effects of handling these issues now? In what ways does the work need to be further strengthened? Thank you.

Liu Yongfu:

Thank you for your questions. Regarding prevention of the falsification and manipulation of numbers in poverty elimination, we mainly operate from three aspects: 

First, poverty alleviation should reach those who truly need it and deliver genuine outcomes. This requires us to realize three things truthfully, which are, pragmatic poverty alleviation work, solid support processes and true poverty alleviation outcomes.

Second, we should ensure we have strict standards and procedures for determining whether people have been lifted out of poverty. We have carried out rigorous evaluations and assessments to verify the numbers. And the results should be real and recognized by the whole society.

Third, stern measures have been taken to address falsification and manipulation of numbers in poverty elimination. We will make sure to rectify any case in a timely manner once it is detected, and we will hold anyone to account if they commit serious misdeeds.

To answer your second question about how to consolidate the accomplishments of poverty alleviation, I would make the following observations. First, we must ensure that poverty alleviation work delivers genuine outcomes; second, we must steadily continue the current poverty alleviation policies after the people concerned have got rid of their poverty; third, we must start from a long-term perspective, develop industries, increase employment, increase income, and ensure the poverty alleviation work has sustainable effects; fourth, we must provide timely assistance for those who unfortunately lapse back into poverty as they used to be and those who become newly poor people.

Your third question is about corruption and work style in poverty alleviation. The CPC central committee set 2018 as the year to improve the work style in poverty alleviation. Generally speaking, the campaign against corruption and undesirable work styles went smoothly, with outstanding achievements. The work style and abilities of officials at the grassroots are widely recognized. Of course, among them, there are still a few with an unacceptable work style. In these cases, we will seek to change, dismiss, criticize and educate them. Besides, we will promote the good ones and place them in important positions. By doing so, we can establish the correct orientation in appointing officials.

On the whole, there are fewer and fewer corruption problems in the field of poverty alleviation. For example, the proportion of using or allocating funds in breach of regulations has fallen from 15.7% in 2013 to less than 1% now, and we have had to punish fewer people. In addition, poverty alleviation officials, especially those working at the grassroots, have made significant contributions to poverty alleviation. They not only exhibit a good work style, but also work hard, and some have even made sacrifices and paid with their own lives. By the end of June this year, there were more than 770 people who died while working for poverty alleviation. Thank you.