China on Tuesday inaugurated a trans-provincial trial project of poverty relief in the central and western regions in a new initiative to reduce poverty and boost balanced development.

An inauguration ceremony was held in the city of Jichang, Hunan Province, to mark the launch of the pilot scheme at the Wuling Mountain region that covers 71 underdeveloped counties in the provinces of Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, and the Chongqing Municipality.

Vice Premier Hui Liangyu said the pilot project would pave the way for the implementation of the trans-provincial poverty-relief work in the coming decade.

(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2011)