Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan pressed for steady advancements in healthcare and education in rural areas as an approach to poverty relief, during an inspection tour to North China’s Shanxi province from March 8 to 10.

While presiding over a symposium attended by local government officials, staff of healthcare institutions, and residents in Lyuliang, a city known for its abject poverty, Sun emphasized the urgency of targeting poverty induced by illness, which calls for strengthened medical insurance, all-around application of health concepts, and reinforced medical infrastructure and services.

Inclusive pre-school education, compulsory education and occupational education are of critical significance to poverty reduction, as they are conducive to expanding employment for rural residents and enhancing their development capabilities, said Sun while inspecting some schools and kindergartens. Further efforts should be made to beef up this field, along with cross-regional collaboration and assistance, she said.

She also urged local officials to make solid efforts in implementing poverty alleviation policies.