BEIJING, May 31 -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong on Friday stressed the need for consistent efforts to consolidate and expand China's poverty alleviation achievements, and ensure that those efforts contribute to rural revitalization.

Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at a related teleconference.

He underscored the need to increase support for key counties that receive assistance in their pursuit of rural revitalization, and for areas whose residents have been relocated from unfit areas to resettle together in communities.

He called for accelerated efforts to establish a regular support mechanism for low-income rural populations and under-developed areas, and to advance east-west cooperation and targeted assistance.

Eight provincial regions of east China signed assistance agreements with 10 western provincial regions at this year's conference.

The vice premier urged the improvement of employment quality for those who have emerged from poverty, as well as the improvement of development and living conditions in areas that have been lifted out of poverty.

He also underlined the importance of efforts to reap a bumper summer harvest and ensure good summer sowing work to lay a solid foundation for high grain yields in the autumn.