Paper-cutting artist Guo Min (C) teaches villagers the skills of paper-cutting in Shounan Village of Guantao County, north China's Hebei Province. Guantao County has put great efforts in developing the local handicraft industry to alleviate poverty in recent years. File picture: Mu Yu/Xinhua Chinaâs people-centred approach to beating poverty By Opinion Muhammed Khalid Sayed While the world is fighting to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic, China has been welcoming in the new lunar year with the celebrations in defeating poverty. During this time, the commencement of the year of the ox, Chinese president, Xi Jinping, has declared that poverty has been eradicated in China and that the country is well on its way to Xiaokang: a moderately prosperous society in all respects.