BEIJING — Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua, 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 20 at the national anti-poverty development and work conference.

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

He called for enhanced 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.

The study and development of a long-term mechanism are needed to address relative poverty in rural areas, according to him.

Hu also urged joint efforts from different fronts to ensure the entire population is lifted out of poverty by the end of 2020.