Efforts should be made to support old revolutionary base areas in consolidating and spreading anti-poverty achievements in the new development stage, creating a wealthier and happier life for local people, according to a circular issued by the State Council on Feb 20.

The move is aimed at ensuring old revolutionary base areas’ achievements in rural revitalization and new-type urbanization by 2025 while consolidating and expanding current accomplishments in poverty alleviation. By 2035, old revolutionary base areas are expected to realize socialist modernization in tandem with the whole country, with a modern economic system taking shape and residents’ income rising significantly.

To maintain anti-poverty achievements, a better monitoring and assistance mechanism should be in place to prevent a return to poverty, coupled with continued aid to impoverished people who have been relocated.

That process should be aligned with rural revitalization efforts, including by developing water supply facilities based on local conditions, implementing utility projects in rural areas, and enhancing support for low-income groups by building up their occupational skills and helping them go out as migrant workers.

In old revolutionary base areas, coordinated development should be pursued among small, medium-sized and large cities. Demonstration zones of high-quality development should be further developed in cities such as Ganzhou in Jiangxi province and Sanming in Fujian province, the circular said.

Boosting the growth of old revolutionary base areas should be viewed as an important part of the country’s major regional planning, as well as planning for economic zones, city clusters and metropolitan areas.

To upgrade old revolutionary base areas’ infrastructure networks, key programs should be included in related national plans and kick off as early as possible for eligible areas, including highways, railways, airports, and energy, water conservancy and emergency projects.

Measures should also be taken to help cultivate industries that can drive local development by tapping into unique advantages and resources, such as the tourism industry relying on local history, ethnic culture and ecological resources.

Innovation-driven development in old revolutionary base areas should involve building key universities with key disciplines and labs, and improving new-generation information infrastructure such as 5G, industrial internet and the internet of things, and facilitating digital economy.

To improve people’s well-being, public services in education, public health and cultural and sports facilities should catch up. Red tourism should be further developed with more demonstration areas, and multiple media resources should be used to promote the tourism.

Monuments of revolutionary and historical significance, such as the Sichuan-Shaanxi Revolutionary Base Museum, require better protection and repairs.

To push for a transition to green development, the circular urged efforts in protecting the ecological environment for the Yangtze River, the Yellow River and other important water sources, launching biodiversity projects in suitable areas, and building national parks in a scientific manner.

Financial support is also needed, including by distributing more transfer payments and special local government bonds from the central budget to provinces that are home to old revolutionary base areas, the circular said.