BEIJING — Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has called for greater efforts to win the battle against poverty on schedule.

Hu, also chief of the State Council leading group of poverty alleviation and development, made the remarks on Dec 17 at a related meeting.

The poverty alleviation campaign has entered a crucial stage, he said, stressing the need to consolidate achievements in industrial development and employment assistance for poverty relief as well as follow-up support for relocation programs to prevent people from slipping back into poverty.

Efforts should be made to strengthen inspections of the poverty alleviation work and rectify problems exposed during the inspections.

Hu also underlined that government officials should remain vigilant in their poverty alleviation work and continue follow-up support for households that have come out of poverty.