With its poverty rate drastically down to about 15 percent of the total population in the city, Baise is well on its way to attaining its goal of reducing the rate to less than 10 percent by 2020, helped by its growing economy, central government subsidies and other ongoing poverty-alleviation efforts, Chen said.

"Poverty is a universal issue. You cannot say too much about the achievement China has made in poverty alleviation. Poverty is a developing issue. It is lengthy, complex and arduous in nature."

As deputy secretary-general of the CPC Guangdong Committee, Chen accompanied late State leader Deng Xiaoping during his trip to Guangdong in 1992 and always bears in mind Deng's words that those getting rich first should help those lagging behind.

Last year, Chen started efforts to ensure children living in poor conditions have adequate financial support and receive an education and plans to continue those efforts this year.