The State Council released a circular on Oct 24 establishing a leading group for conducting general inspections on national poverty relief work.

Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua will assume leadership of the group. Set at the National Bureau of Statistics, the group’s office will be headed by Li Xiaochao, NBS deputy chief, and Ou Qingping, deputy director of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.

Twenty-two local governments in central and western China are required to build corresponding leading groups and offices.