As the annual Two Sessions commence, significant strides are being made in China's journey towards comprehensive rural revitalization. Building on the announcement by President Xi Jinping on February 25, 2021, declaring a \"complete victory\" in the fight against extreme poverty, the Chinese government has shifted focus towards modernizing rural areas as a pivotal step in realizing the nation's great rejuvenation.
A cornerstone of this strategy is the provision of a comprehensive and steady power supply. Energy is essential for socio-economic transformation, fostering innovation and industrialization. In Jinzhai county, Anhui Province, the installation of 3KW distributed solar power facilities for 7,803 impoverished households, along with larger 60KW and 15,000KW solar plants for villages and towns respectively, has significantly boosted incomes and provided clean, stable energy. Between 2014 and 2019, Jinzhai managed to lift all 71 poor villages off the poverty list, reducing the poverty incidence rate from 22.1 percent to a mere 0.31 percent.
The World Bank acknowledges that China's robust economic growth is partly fueled by its capacity to produce and supply energy, particularly clean energy, to meet increasing consumption demands. This achievement is attributed to the persistent efforts of the Chinese government and enterprises in energy development.
Supporting and encouraging start-ups in rural areas is another vital aspect of China's revitalization strategy. Entrepreneurial programs empower individuals with the skills needed to start and manage successful businesses. For instance, a cooperative project between Guangdong and Guangxi provinces facilitated entrepreneurial training for rural residents. In Foshan's Nanhai District, over 526 entrepreneurial leaders from Guangxi's Shanglin County were trained, leading to the registration of over 5,087 individuals previously classified as poor. These efforts have spurred the development of small-scale industries and individual businesses, further driving rural economic growth.
Through these integrated approaches—enhancing energy infrastructure and fostering entrepreneurship—China is not only addressing immediate poverty alleviation but also laying the groundwork for sustained rural modernization and economic development.
