Fighting poverty in China: social and economic experience of reforms in rural areas

China’s development since the 1980s has been marked by two achievements - sustained, rapid economic growth and a dramatic reduction in poverty. It is one of the few examples of a post-World War II developing country achieving both socially just and cost-effective development. According to international standards, in 2016, China actually eliminated the social phenomenon of absolute poverty on its territory, what happened largely due to positive changes in rural areas of the PRC, which include the increase in the income level of the population in the villages, improving people’s living conditions, providing social infrastructure for the territories of the provinces of China, availability of health and education services, reducing employment in agriculture and redistribution of jobs in favor of industry with a corresponding increase in wages, etc. Conclusion is drawn that China, using the world's experience in fighting poverty, has formed its own strategy, based on a change in social policy within the country and on overall economic growth.