Students pose for a photo at a primary school in Gandong Township of Rongshui Miao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 14, 2019. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)
China, the world's most populous country, on Thursday declared that it has eliminated absolute poverty.
The feat means China has solved absolute poverty, which has existed for thousands of years. The nation's people have now realized their long-cherished wish for ample food and clothing as well as comfortable housing.
China's achievement in poverty alleviation is not just limited to improvements in material conditions but also includes efforts in raising public spirit. The country has boosted the enthusiasm, ambition and creativity of the poor by providing them access to education and helped build aspirations.
Aerial photo taken on March 28, 2020 shows a primary school near a poverty-relief relocation site in Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)
Guangxi, one of the major battlefields in China's poverty alleviation campaign, has been making painstaking efforts to improve education for poverty-stricken children, as schooling is believed to be the best way to empower the youngsters to lift their families out of poverty.
The region has taken various measures in this regard, including granting students stipends, improving school facilities and nutritional conditions of rural students, and helping more students from rural and impoverished areas have access to higher education.
Aerial photo taken on May 21, 2020 shows a newly-built school near a poverty-relief relocation site in Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)
As many households from inhospitable areas have moved into relocation sites built for poverty alleviation in the county seats, relocated children can study in schools in and near resettlements, instead of trekking hours back and forth in mountains for schooling.
A teacher and children rehearse a show for the International Children's Day at a kindergarten in Xingye County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, May 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)
A teacher tutors students during a break at a primary school in Longwan Township of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 31, 2017. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)
The faculty is key to education. The regional government has called in capable teachers to help schools in rural areas, and has been committed to guaranteeing payment to teachers and filling vacancies of teachers in rural areas through special programs.
Students walk to the classrooms after playing "Lusheng", a reed-pipe wind instrument, at a middle school in Rongshui Miao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 22, 2019. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)
A teacher imparts the knowledge of a robot model to students at a primary school in Xingye County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, May 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)
A teacher and students study a DNA structure model at a middle school in Xingye County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, May 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)
Reducing poverty must begin with reducing ignorance. Therefore, giving rural children a good education is an important task in poverty relief, and also a crucial means to stop poverty being passed on through generations.
A student practices catching embroidered balls at a primary school in Dahua Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, May 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)
Students have fun on the playground at a primary school in Longan County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 16, 2019. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)