Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, shakes hands with a lawmaker from Gansu province during the second session of the 13th National People's Congress, March 7, 2019. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called for perseverance in the fight against poverty with the country working to meet its goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2020.

Xi Jinping warned that the tasks ahead remain arduous and hard as those still in poverty are the worst stricken

"There should be no retreat until a complete victory is won," said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

He made the remarks while deliberating with deputies from Gansu province at the second session of the 13th National People's Congress, China's national legislature.

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Decisive progress has been achieved in the country's tough fight against poverty over the past years, marking a new chapter in the poverty reduction history of mankind, Xi said, stressing that the goal to eradicate extreme poverty must be achieved on time.

He warned that the tasks ahead remain arduous and hard as those still in poverty are the worst stricken.

Explaining the criteria of lifting people out of poverty, Xi said they should no longer need to worry about food and clothing while enjoying access to compulsory education, basic medical care and safe housing.

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The practices of formalities for formalities' sake and bureaucratism hampers the effective advancement of poverty reduction, he said, stressing a firm hand in rectifying malpractices in poverty relief.

President Xi Jinping joins deliberations with deputies from Gansu province at the second session of the 13th National People's Congress, on March 7, 2019. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Xi asked Party committees and governments at all levels to shoulder their responsibilities in the critical battle against poverty.

He ordered efforts to redress undesirable conduct of officials in a timely manner, as well as special campaigns to target corruption and bad conduct in poverty reduction.