Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua called for more efforts to promote poverty alleviation in extremely poor areas, at a recent meeting on guiding and advancing poverty alleviation held in Guangyuan, Sichuan province.

Hu, head of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, said it remains an arduous task to overcome poverty in extremely poor areas, which is the key to winning the tough battle against poverty. He specified that efforts should be concentrated on securing access to compulsory education, basic medical services and safe housing.

Drinking water safety must be ensured, and greater efforts must be made to intensify the construction of drinking water projects, said Hu.

Hu also called for continued efforts to reduce the dropout rate in compulsory education, to prevent falling into or returning to poverty due to illness and to ensure both quality and quantity in dilapidated building renovations.