China announced the first batch of recipients of the China Poverty Eradication Award on Sunday -- in hopes of encouraging more non-governmental agencies to help the country's poverty-relief cause.

The honors were given to 18 institutions and individuals who had made outstanding contribution to the poverty-relief campaign in China. They include the World Bank which has provided anti-poverty loans to China and a businessman in Zhejiang Province who has donated more than 5 million yuan (US$ 600,000). A 90-year-old man, Bai Fangli, who helped poor university students with his pension and the money he earned by riding pedicab also earned the honor.

In other countries, anti-poverty campaigns are mostly initiated by welfare constitutions, but in China, the government is responsible for the poverty-relief efforts.

During the anti-poverty campaign from 1978 to 2003, China reduced its impoverished population from 250 million to 29 million. The percentage of the disadvantaged people against the total rural population also dropped to 3.1 percent from 30.7 percent.

However, non-governmental agencies have been playing an important role in fighting poverty in recent years. They participate in projects such as Project Hope, which has helped poor children go to school, the Glorious Cause helping private businesses in underdeveloped regions and Project Happiness to help poverty-stricken mothers.

Meanwhile, China's leading poverty reduction institution, the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, and All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce signed an agreement on Sunday, vowing to work together to help more private sectors into the poverty elimination campaign.

According to the agreement, the two institutions will map out policies to encourage private sectors to provide training or jobs for people in less developed areas. The trial operation will first be launched in Bijie Prefecture of Guizhou Province and Nanchong Prefecture of Sichuan Province.

Despite all the achievements, China is still challenged with heavy poverty-relief tasks.

The country now has 29 million people living in extreme poverty, meaning they earned less than 625 yuan (US$75.31) each year. However, if the standard is raised by 200 yuan (US$24.10), the figure will triple to 90 million people.

At the Global Conference on Scaling Up Poverty Reduction in Shanghai earlier this year, China issued a statement expressing its determination to fight poverty.

According to the statement, China will consistently push forward the poverty alleviation policies and make efforts to help its underprivileged people live a relatively affluent life before 2020 and share the benefits of the country's rapid social and economic growth.

China will also promote its national strategy of developing the vast western region and northeastern industrial belt, the statement says.

The award, China Poverty Eradication Award, launched its first appraisal on Oct. 17 last year. It will be held every two years. Prestigious economists and social sciences scholars have been invited as members of the appraisal committee.

(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2004)