Beijing on Wednesday hosted a forum on poverty relief ahead of China's National Poverty Alleviation Day, which falls on Oct. 17.
Ou Qingping, vice director of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, gave a speech at the forum, focusing on the benefits of driving consumer spending on goods and services from people in poor areas.
According to Ou, Beijing has contributed much to these efforts. From January to August, the city channeled 2.55 billion yuan (US$360 million) to impoverished areas, and sent 180 government officials to the areas to support economic cooperation and establish partnerships.
Lin Keqing, executive vice-mayor of Beijing, said the city will continue to expand consumption in support of poverty alleviation, encourage research institutions and companies to develop new products and production bases in underdeveloped regions, and help build regional brands for their local specialty products.
Beijing spent over 5.7 billion yuan to purchase goods and services from people in China's poor areas in the first half of the year, according to reports. In particular, a mass entrepreneurship and innovation center in Beijing recorded around 300 million yuan in procurement of goods and services from people in poor areas.
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