Challenges from the economic slowdown and employment pressures create added difficulties

China will work hard to lift about 70 million people in rural areas out of poverty by the end of 2020, a senior official from the government's top task force on eliminating poverty said on Monday.

The poverty reduction task faces challenges from the economic slowdown and employment pressures, said Hong Tianyun, deputy director of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.