Xi Push to End Poverty Helps Anchor Party Support in Rural China
- Communist Party legitimacy hinges on improving quality of life
- Despite success, millions still in distress as economy slows
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Almost a year ago, 26-year-old Luoba Nijinmo moved her family into a brand-new housing estate called “Gratitude Community” in southwest China -- her last step to being officially lifted out of poverty.
The mother of two is among about 10 million people who have been resettled in government-built housing since 2016, part of President Xi Jinping’s promise to eradicate extreme rural poverty -- those who earn less than 11 yuan ($1.63) per day -- by the end of this year. He’s getting close: Official data show the number of extremely poor rural residents fell to 5.5 million last year from almost 56 million in 2015.