BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) -- The city of Yan'an, a former revolutionary base of the Communist Party of China (CPC), has won another hard battle led by the CPC, eliminating absolute poverty.
Yan'an announced on Tuesday it had shaken off absolute poverty, which is of great significance as this year marks the 70th founding anniversary of new China.
Commonly termed as "the cradle of the Chinese revolution", the city hosted the then headquarters of the CPC and the center of the Communist revolution from 1935 to 1948.
Located in the hinterland of the Loess Plateau, Yan'an was a very poor place in history. In the 1937 book "Red Star over China," American journalist Edgar Snow depicted the northern part of Shaanxi Province, where Yan'an is located, as one of the most poverty-stricken regions of China he had ever seen.
However, despite the challenges, remarkable achievements have been made after decades of hard work. The Party has never eased its efforts to support Yan'an, a drought- and flood-prone area. Nor did the local people stop their fight against poverty.
With the help of government investments, the impoverished locals engaged in profitable businesses including apple orchards, tourism, e-commerce, and high-tech enterprises. Emerging industries reshaped local economic structure, reducing the area's reliance on natural resources and increasing the income of local people.
By the end of 2018, 195,000 people had been lifted out of poverty in Yan'an. The per capita annual income of former registered impoverished households reached 8,289 yuan (1,226 U.S. dollars), far above the national poverty line.
Under the CPC's leadership and the guidance of the "Yan'an Spirit," Yan'an people have won a victory over poverty, and the then "cradle of revolution" is now turning into a "cradle of hope."
In the revolutionary days, the "Yan'an Spirit" means sticking to the right political direction, liberating thoughts, seeking the truth, self-reliance and serving the people wholeheartedly.
In the fight against poverty, the "Yan'an Spirit" is fully inherited.
Under the CPC's leadership, abundant resources have been poured into the area for poverty relief. Governments at every level have taken steps to make sure the task is completed on time.
For instance, the local government has supported certain industries based on the area's conditions, including apple farming and online selling, to secure effective and sustainable results.
Party members were dispatched to villages to mobilize and guide the impoverished. Each registered poor family was assigned an official responsible for lifting them out of poverty.
Apart from the Party's efforts, local people's "never give up" attitude is also indispensable in the fight against long-standing poverty. Yan'an people's story will bring hope to those still living under the poverty line to continue striving for better lives.
According to government figures, there were still 16.6 million impoverished people in China's rural areas by the end of 2018. China aims to eliminate absolute poverty by 2020.
There are less than two years left to meet the goal, more success stories will happen. It is certain that no one will be left behind in the country's poverty relief campaign.
