The 19th CPC National Congress has started! China Daily's American reporter Erik Nilsson brings you onsite to discover what this historic event means for China — and the world.
Today's progress point, poverty alleviation, is dear to Erik Nilsson personally because he has spent much of the past 11 years sojourning through remote settlements throughout nearly every corner of China.
Most recently, he was in Qinghai, where he started a volunteer initiative six years ago.
This time, Erik also lived like the nomads — milking yaks, collecting dung and herding sheep with slingshots.
Looking back, in 2011, there was virtually no electricity in Qumarleb county. Seventy-eight students in Yege township slept in seven tents. And dirt roads were bone-juddering.
Now, electricity is 100 percent, 24/7. Students sleep in dorms. And paved roads make transportation convenient.
China has hoisted over 700 million people out of poverty over the past three decades.
About 56 million people have escaped poverty since 2013, including over 12 million last year. At least 10 million more will this year. That's largely because of the targeted poverty-alleviation strategy of the top leadership, led by Xi Jinping.
China has announced the country will eliminate extreme poverty by 2020.
Indeed, China's poverty alleviation proves the Party's leadership works.
Moving forward, what's its future?
To find out, please follow us as we follow the congress' progress points in the following days!
What will the next five years hold
for economic development?
What does the Party congress mean
for China's diplomacy?
