18 measures to alleviate poverty released

The Ministry of Land and Resources released 18 measures to help alleviate poverty in China's major poverty-stricken areas on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the 18 measures include increasing the annual land supply to the major poverty-stricken areas, strengthening the mineral resources exploration and development and giving preferential policy in building industrial zones for mineral resources production.

Besides boosting local economic development, it also emphasizes establishing a geological disaster forecast and relief system. Most of the poverty-stricken areas are concentrated in 11 mountainous regions that are prone to geological disasters.

To guarantee the implementation of these measures, the ministry will regularly send expert teams for supervision and guidance.

However, the details of the 18 measures were not provided in the statement.

In June 2011, 680 counties in 21 provinces and regions were mapped into the country's latest 10-year (2011-2020) strategy on poverty alleviation and development.

As the national poverty line rose in November, about 128 million people in rural China with an annual income less than 2,300 yuan ($364) were counted as poor.