Vice Premier Hui Liangyu Monday attended the starting ceremony of the poverty alleviation China tour initiated by China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation in Beijing.

The poverty alleviation tour aims to mobilize urban citizens from all circles, especially affluent citizens, to visit poverty-stricken areas, experience the living status of poor people, communicate with them and give them economic assistance.

This time, one thousand volunteers will visit 100 state or provinces designated key poverty alleviation counties, 1,000 poverty-stricken villages and 100,000 impoverished rural families, making a survey of their living status and forming a report.

The Foundation for Poverty Alleviation is also widely inviting journalism personnel to attend the tour, so as to attract the whole society to pay attention to poverty and make efforts to alleviate poverty.

The Minsheng Bank donated 31 million yuan (US$3.83 million) the Foundation to set up a Minsheng fund for education and poverty alleviation.

(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2005)