Ten-year-old Meng Yuqiang (L) and his 11-year-old cousin Meng Yutao sits on top of a mountain in Nonghe Village of Qibainong Township in Dahua Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, July 25, 2017. They both hope to learn knowledge so as to step out of the mountain in the future. Due to harsh environmental conditions such as the stony desertification and mountainous landform, Guangxi has long been a less developed area in China. In recent years, local government carried out many measurements for the poverty alleviation work. Tens of thousands of officials and staff members helped local people build roads, repair houses, improve education and industry development. In 2016, more than 1.11 million people were liberated from poverty. The poverty-stricken population in the region has declined from 10.12 million in 2010 to current 3.638 million. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang)
