Local authorities in Lijiang, Yunnan province launched a plan on Dec 2 to eradicate extreme poverty.

According to the plan, 174 tourism companies in the city will support 91 poverty villages in surrounding areas under Lijiang’s jurisdiction. The plan was announced at a conference aimed at encouraging local businesses to support local villages.

Through the plan, businesses will be encouraged to provide more job opportunities, favorable purchase prices and career training sessions to residents from impoverished villages.

Huang Xinping, deputy director of the Lijiang poverty relief office, attended the conference and pointed out that private enterprises not only play a significant role in economic development, but are also important to the local poverty relief work.

According to Huang, the launch of poverty relief action in Lijiang was aimed to guide local private enterprises to play to their strengths and take active roles in poverty relief work.

After 20 years of promoting its tourism industry, Lijiang city has made significant developments and have helped to increase the average incomes of local people. Official statistics show that approximately 200,000 people work in the tourism industry in Lijiang.

Lijiang city in Southwest China’s Yunnan province is a cultural center for the Naxi people. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]