Abstract: Poverty is a worldwide problem. Anti-poverty is one of the priorities of China‘s governance. Several parts of the Tibet Autonomous Region, in China‘s southwest, are impoverished areas. Over the past years, with strong support from the Central Government, great achievements have been made in the anti-poverty efforts in Tibet. During the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC (Communist Party of China) Central Committee last year, China set a target of lifting all of the remaining poor people out of poverty by 2020. Tibet, currently with 590,000 people living below the poverty line, calls for greater efforts to battle poverty. Poverty relief has entered a crucial phase, and the war against poverty in Tibet must be won so that people in Tibet can live in an all-round better-off society along with the people in other areas.

Tibet is an inseparable part of China. Since the peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951, the Central Government has placed developing the economy in Tibet among the top tasks. Tibet‘s regional Party committee and government have also taken poverty reduction as a priority.

1. Great achievements of Tibet‘s poverty-relief

The old Tibet was a dark, cruel, backward and even savage society of feudal serfdom, with extremely backward method of economic development. Primitive farming had long been used in agricultural production and farm tools were rudimentary. Serfs, which made up more than 95 percent of the total population in Tibet, possessed no freedom or means of production. Most of them lived in absolute poverty with an average life span of merely 35.5 years. The peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951 ushered in a new age for the social and economic development of Tibet, which later witnessed the democratic reform, the founding of the Regional Government, and the reform and opening up. With the leadership of CPC, the Central Government has attached great importance to the economic and social development of Tibet. Nationwide, the people have given immense support for Tibet. During their terms, the CPC regional committees and governments led the people in persistent battles against poverty and developed different modes to reduce poverty.

Since 1994, Tibet has actively participated in four phases of national anti-impoverishment efforts, including the seven-year action plan from 1994 to 2000, and three Five-Year plan periods from 2001 to 2015. In the past 22 years, Tibet established four standards of poverty-relief, one after another, targeting low-income groups in the farming and herding areas. Tibet‘s poverty-relief fund totaled 13 billion yuan (about two billion U.S. dollars) and more than 2.5 million people were lifted from below the poverty lines. The income of farmers and herders has increased step by step. Infrastructure in the impoverished areas has been improved. The achievements in poverty-relief have led to overall development of Tibet -- its economy, social stability, ethnic solidarity, border security and social harmony.

2. Tibet‘s experience

During the past 65 years, Tibet emerged from a dark serfdom society to become a modern society marked by common prosperity. Its experience shows that the solid leadership of the Communist Part of China is the decisive factor for Tibet to develop. Without its leadership, Tibet would not have had the achievements like it has today and the Tibetan people would not have enjoyed happy and comfortable lives. Tibet can only thrive with the leadership by the CPC, through adhering to the socialist road, regional autonomy and developing along a path with Tibet‘s own characteristics.

Tibet has gathered several experiences in addressing poverty. Firstly, poverty reduction work shall be led by the CPC, which can use its political advantage to make necessary arrangements, plan actions and provide organizational guarantee for the poverty-relief work. Secondly, the role of the government is quite important. They shall use the socialist system to its best advantage. They must take anti-poverty into account when planning the overall development for the region. Large-scale and special campaigns shall be organized. Thirdly, reform and opening up policies shall be upheld to boost regional economy and provide foundation and fund for large-scale poverty-reduction efforts. Fourthly, development is the fundamental solution to all the poverty problems in Tibet. The poor people shall receive help to develop their own abilities. Fifthly, poverty-reduction needs the participation of the public. Special funds shall be established. Industries, social organizations, financial institutions and aid groups shall come to support the poor. Sixth, special policies shall be implemented to areas and people who suffer more from poverty.

3. Formidable tasks

Poverty problems in the rural population are great obstacles on the road of building a moderately prosperous off society for China. It is also important as China advances the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Tibet is among the 14 large swathes of impoverished area in China. According to the poverty line of per capita annual income of 2,300 yuan, about 590,000 people in Tibet are still poor. These people live in vast areas, with scarce means for living and poor abilities. It is hard to lift them out of poverty and keep them above the poverty line. The battle against poverty has gotten even harder than ever. In February this year, the regional government convened a special meeting for poverty relief. A work team and a headquarters were established at the regional government level to direct efforts against poverty.

No people shall be left behind in China‘s efforts to build an all-round well-off society. This is a solemn promise to the Tibetan people made by the regional Party committee and government. All people relevant in this endeavor must increase their sense of responsibility and mission as poverty-alleviation is a significant task, which requires deep understanding of its importance, calls for devotion, input of manpower and investment and resolution to achieve the anti-poverty goals.

(1) Poverty-relief goals must be clear. As part of the goals: the impoverished people must have adequate meals to eat, proper shelters and clothes. They shall have skills, jobs and money to spare. They shall also receive education, medical care and social services. The religious population‘s Buddhist services shall also be ensured. They should have harmonious living environment, proper infrastructure and public service. They shall have better social care system and enjoy happiness from their lives.

(2) Poverty-relief strategies shall be firmly adhered to. Precision is the top principle that shall be enforced in selecting relief targets, implementing projects, using poverty funds, taking concrete measures, sending personnel and achieving goals.

(3) Poverty-relief policies shall be coordinated. Fiscal, tax, land, talents and other policies shall be in place and effectively coordinated.

(4) Poverty-relief funds shall be in place. Sufficient funds are keys to the success of poverty relief in Tibet. Special fund, industrial fund, loans, aids and other forms of capital need to be invested in Tibet.

(5) Precision needs to be stressed. Differentiated policies shall be implemented on different situations of poverty. More irrigation, energy facilities and roads shall be built. People shall be put into different groups and poverty solutions include relocation, finding employment, developing education, culture, and improving social well fare. Poverty matters in border regions shall be attended to.

(6) Responsibility shall be shouldered. Different levels of government and CPC leaders shall be shoulder their responsibility of poverty relief. Officials need to complete their tasks and assignment. Timetables and charts shall be used to assess their performance. Those who are actively engaged in poverty reduction shall be encouraged and wrong-doing and dereliction of duty shall be punished.

The future of Tibet belongs to the Tibetan people. With strong leadership, and the hard work of the Tibetan people, the battle against poverty will be won and Tibet will join the rest of the country in attaining the goal of an all-round better-off society.

(Gou Ling, Communist Party Secretary of the Tibetan Regional Poverty-relief Office)