"The poor population in rural areas has been reduced by 68.53 million in total, and the incidence of poverty has dropped to 3.1 percent. The number of poor counties has witnessed a net reduction for the first time," Chen said.

 

In the past five years, Chen added that "the living standards of the impoverished (Chinese) population have improved significantly."

 

"The average annual disposable income per capita of rural residents in poverty-stricken areas has increased by 10.4 percent, and the gap with the national average has further narrowed," Chen said.

 

AKP Mochtan, ASEAN deputy secretary general, stressed the need to identify new innovative measures and enhance joint efforts to fight poverty.

 

With the theme "Enhancing Poverty Reduction Partnerships for an ASEAN-China Community with a Shared Future," the forum brings together 120 government officials, experts, scholars, civil society officials, international organizations officers from all over ASEAN and China to discuss new measures in addressing the poverty situation within the region.

 

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.