A delegation led by Foshan Party Chief Lu Yi visited Zhanjiang from Aug 28 to 29 to investigate its poverty alleviation work and enhance cooperation between the two cities.

Zheng Renhao, Party secretary of Zhanjiang, warmly received the Foshan delegation. He proposed that the two cities ramp up cooperation in hi-tech industries, the manufacturing industry, the agriculture and marine industries, and tourism relying on platforms such as Foshan Shunde (Lianjiang) Industrial Transfer Park.

According to Lu, Zhanjiang should establish comprehensive public service systems for employment, education, healthcare, and culture. He suggested integrating the rural rejuvenation strategy with poverty relief work, and stepping up renovation of dilapidated buildings and aid for the disabled and destitute.

A poverty relief work conference is held between Foshan and Zhanjiang officials on Aug 28. [Photo/WeChat account: fsfpb888]

The delegation took a trip to the plantation bases, photovoltaic power generation bases, and poverty alleviation projects in Xiacun and Longshou villages. Delegation members talked with natives and Foshan officials stationed there to better acquaint themselves with Zhanjiang's real situation.

Foshan, the third largest city in Guangdong, has been assigned by the provincial government to help 163 impoverished Zhanjiang villages shake off poverty, which includes 54,845 impoverished locals from 16,380 households.

Over the past two years, the city has allocated a specialized poverty reduction fund of 1.6 billion yuan ($234.2 million) to improve Zhanjiang's quality of life, infrastructure, and industrial projects. A total of 209 Foshan officials have been sent to Zhanjiang to contribute their wisdom on poverty alleviation.

From 2016 to 2017, a total of 35,900 Zhanjiang residents benefited from the cooperation and were lifted above the poverty line.