BCP Social Sciences & Humanities ECSS 2022 Volume 19 (2022) 55 The basic features and contemporary values of anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics Qing Li, Yi Zhu School of Marxism, Jiangxi Normal University, Jiangxi 330022, China. Abstract. Eliminating poverty, improving people's livelihood and gradually achieving common prosperity are the essential requirements of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Rooted in the anti-poverty practice with Chinese characteristics, the anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics is a process from practice to theory and back again, and is a scientific theory tested by anti-poverty practice, providing theoretical guidance and intellectual support for China's anti- poverty cause. The anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics is distinctly people-oriented, realistic, comprehensive, precise, innovative and universal. It is not only an important ideological guide and basic guideline for poverty alleviation work in the new era, but also a practical guide to fully start the road to modernisation and common prosperity, reflecting the special value of the times. Keywords: Anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics; Poverty eradication; Precise poverty alleviation; Basic features; Contemporary values. 1. Introduction On February 25, 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his speech at the national summing up and commendation conference on poverty eradication: "Based on our national conditions and grasping the laws of poverty reduction, we have introduced a series of extraordinary policy initiatives, constructed a set of effective policy systems, work systems and institutional systems, walked out of a path of poverty reduction with Chinese characteristics, and formed an anti-poverty Theories." Getting rid of poverty has always been a livelihood issue of the greatest concern to the general public and a relentless pursuit of the Chinese Communists. Especially since the 18th Party Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has always placed poverty eradication in a prominent position in the governance of the country, and has made new requirements and interpretations around the actual anti-poverty situation in China. To deeply grasp the anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics, it is necessary to deeply understand that poverty eradication is a systematic project and a profound social revolution. Systematically sorting out the basic features and contemporary values of the anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics in the new era is of great theoretical value and practical significance for the in-depth study and implementation of Xi Jinping's thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era and the comprehensive promotion of common prosperity. 2. Basic features of anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics 2.1 Peoplehood: relying on the people, serving the people The power of the people is the solid basis for anti-poverty governance with Chinese characteristics. The practice of poverty alleviation in China, where "no one is left behind", demonstrates Marx's view of the masses as "working for the interests of the vast majority of people" and answers the fundamental question of "who is development for". General Secretary Xi Jinping also pointed out, "The mountain is the people, and the people are the mountain; to fight and guard the mountain is to guard the hearts of the people." The entire Party has made poverty eradication a major political responsibility, taking the satisfaction of the masses as an important measure of the effectiveness of poverty eradication and concentrating on addressing the basic livelihood needs of the poor. On the issue of anti-poverty, China never treats the people as objects of charity or simply as objects of help, but rather stimulates the endogenous motivation of the poor, emphasising that the people act to solve BCP Social Sciences & Humanities ECSS 2022 Volume 19 (2022) 56 their own poverty problems, that the people are the main body of anti-poverty, and that the people are the creators of history. While increasing investment in poverty eradication, emphasis is placed on insisting on combining poverty alleviation with helping the will and wisdom, focusing on transforming the people's aspiration for a better life into a powerful motivation to get rid of poverty. We will vigorously promote the change of customs, cultivate a healthy and civilised culture, enhance the ability of the poor to develop themselves, organise, guide and support the poor to develop industries and expand employment to break away from poverty, and stimulate the endogenous motivation of the masses to become self-reliant and sustainably escape poverty. The vivid practice of poverty eradication fully proves that our country always adheres to the people as the centre, relies closely on the people, serves the people, adheres to the direction of common prosperity, and takes the realization, maintenance and development of the fundamental interests of the broadest number of people as the starting and ending points. As long as we consistently stand firm on the people's position and respect the people's spirit of initiative, we will certainly be able to continue to promote the common prosperity of all the people to make more obvious and substantial progress and continuously realize the people's aspiration for a better life. 2.2 Relevance: problem-oriented and up-to-date It is the theoretical character and inherent requirement of Marxism to adhere to problem orientation. "Problems are the slogans of the times", and as long as problems keep arising, people's practical activities to understand society and people themselves will not stop. For this reason, the fight against poverty has always put problem orientation throughout the overall strategy of poverty alleviation in China, upholding the awareness of problems, conducting in-depth and extensive investigation and research, putting forward the key aspects and essential characteristics of different problems at different stages, and laying the objective foundation of the anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics. China's anti-poverty work is a long-term process, from the founding of the Communist Party of China to the solution of absolute poverty, it has experienced a century of time. We have always adhered to the principle of seeking truth from facts, based on the reality of rural poverty, grasping the actual situation of poverty, ensuring that poverty alleviation work is real and effective, and eliminating the occurrence of return to poverty. General Secretary Xi Jinping also pointed out, "Whether the policies of the Party Central Committee are good or not depends on whether the villagers are laughing or crying. If the villagers laugh, it is a good policy and should be adhered to; if someone cries, it means that the policy still needs to be improved and adjusted" , demanding that "we must really grasp the reality, implement the requirements of precise poverty alleviation, achieve clear objectives, clear tasks, clear responsibilities and clear measures, and make precise efforts to help the real poor and truly help the poor" , stressing that "winning the battle against poverty is not a campaign or a gust of wind, but real poverty alleviation, real poverty alleviation and real poverty eradication. It must stand the test of history" . It can be said that the anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics is based on the long-term exploration and practice of solving the most concerned, direct and realistic poverty problems of the poor people in poor areas, rooted in the road model of poverty alleviation and development with Chinese characteristics, derived from the accumulation of practical work on the front line of poverty, developed from the experience of the battlefield of precise poverty alleviation and precise poverty eradication, always insisting on starting from the poverty reality of the poor people in poor areas and always insisting on It has a strong realistic character and is guided by the question of "really helping the poor, helping the real poor and getting rid of poverty". 2.3 Comprehensiveness: integrated planning and collaborative promotion General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "to achieve tangible results in poverty eradication, it is crucial to find the right path, build a good institutional mechanism, grasp the key points, solve the difficulties and grasp the focus." Poverty alleviation and development is a major social system project that relies not only on the strong leadership, core leadership and organisation of the Party, but BCP Social Sciences & Humanities ECSS 2022 Volume 19 (2022) 57 also on the united and concerted efforts of the whole society. Without the active contribution and joint efforts of the industry, special poverty alleviation and social poverty alleviation, and without the synergistic promotion of the trinity of government, market and society, the target task of poverty eradication will not be completed on schedule and with high quality. The anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics is based on the new situation, new tasks and new requirements of China's poverty alleviation and development work in the new century and new stage, and includes many aspects such as guiding ideology, basic principles, objectives and tasks, paths and methods, policies and measures, and guarantee mechanisms, etc. It does not talk about poverty in terms of poverty, or poverty alleviation in terms of poverty alleviation. On the basis of a profound analysis of the complex factors contributing to poverty in China's poor regions and population, we have taken a holistic view, a holistic approach and a systematic approach, co-ordinated the major relationships and various aspects of poverty alleviation and development, combined macro policy measures with micro institutional arrangements, combined external assistance with stimulation of internal motivation, combined poverty alleviation and development with promotion of economic and social development, combined precise identification of poverty alleviation targets with improvement of the dynamic exit mechanism, combined government-led efforts with joint efforts of society, and adhered to a comprehensive planning and collaborative approach. The pattern of promotion is oriented to deeply reflect the important feature of comprehensiveness. 2.4 Precision: practice-based and precise The concept of precise poverty alleviation was first proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his visit to western Hunan Province. In 2015, at the High Level Forum on Poverty Reduction and Development, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that a series of policy measures should be introduced to implement precise poverty alleviation policies into the actual poverty alleviation work. In order to solve the problems of unclear poverty population base, unclear causes of poverty, ineffective poverty alleviation measures and inaccurate flow of poverty alleviation funds and projects in the process of poverty alleviation and development, the higher authorities have proposed and implemented poverty alleviation governance programmes for precise poverty alleviation and poverty eradication. In guiding the formulation of the 13th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, General Secretary Xi Jinping once again pointed out the need to effectively alleviate poverty with precision. Precision, the core feature and intrinsic essence of the anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics, runs through the entire process of poverty alleviation and development work with Chinese characteristics, and is reflected in the arrangement and deployment of China's poverty eradication targets and tasks, and in the implementation of various aspects and links such as precision to people, precision to households, precision to villages, precision projects, precise identification and precise policy-making. Poverty eradication focuses on precision, accurate identification, precise policy-making, targeted programmes according to the causes of poverty, different measures for different types of poverty for different reasons, individualized measures for each household and village, targeted treatment, precise drip irrigation, targeted treatment, emphasising that the key to fighting the battle against poverty is to focus and refocus, to be precise and accurate, to take more focused support, more powerful initiatives and more elaborate work. Targeting specific poor people for precise assistance. Thus, the anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics shows the important feature of precision. 2.5 Innovation: pioneering and pragmatic To win the battle against poverty and achieve stable poverty alleviation and prosperity for the poor in poor areas, we must ultimately rely on reform and innovation in poverty alleviation concepts, poverty alleviation measures, poverty alleviation models and poverty alleviation paths, so as to stimulate the development vitality of poor areas and the endogenous development momentum of poor people, thereby enhancing their self-development capacity and achieving "stable poverty alleviation BCP Social Sciences & Humanities ECSS 2022 Volume 19 (2022) 58 and a way to get rich". Poverty is not an unchangeable destiny. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasises that "the will of the poor cannot be shortened, and poverty alleviation must be preceded by the will of the poor" , and that "stimulating endogenous motivation and mobilising the motivation of poor areas and poor people" , with emphasis on both material and spiritual poverty alleviation. Both must be taken into account at the same time. We should combine poverty alleviation with will alleviation, focus on stimulating the initiative of the poor to develop production and get rid of poverty, focus on cultivating the awareness and concept of self-reliance of the poor, and guide the masses to rely on their hard-working hands and strong will to get rid of poverty and get rich. During its century-long journey, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has always kept a firm grip on the theme of anti-poverty, explored with difficulty and innovated continuously, and historically resolved the problem of absolute poverty in China, achieving the poverty reduction target of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule, and becoming a model for global poverty governance. The remarkable achievement of China's anti-poverty cause stems from the fact that the Communist Party of China has steadfastly combined the basic principles of Marxism with China's specific reality, innovatively enriched and developed Marxist anti-poverty theory, and constructed a theory of anti-poverty with Chinese characteristics, which is a summary of experience and theoretical innovation of the long-standing practice of poverty alleviation and development in China, with strong contemporary characteristics and innovative features. 2.6 Worldwide: Chinese solutions, Chinese wisdom Building a world free from poverty and enjoying common prosperity is both the goal of the global cause of poverty reduction and an inherent requirement of common human values. The anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics has not only guided China to a comprehensive victory in the battle against poverty, but also has great global significance. Since the 18th Party Congress, China has lifted an average of more than 10 million people out of poverty each year, equivalent to the population of a medium-sized country, creating a Chinese model of poverty reduction governance, making a significant contribution to the cause of global poverty reduction and setting a benchmark for other developing countries in poverty reduction governance. Firstly, the historic achievements of anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics in guiding China's fight against poverty have played the role of a locomotive in global poverty reduction and strengthened the confidence of the global fight against poverty. Secondly, the anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics has provided an important theoretical reference for the global anti- poverty cause, offering Chinese solutions and contributing Chinese wisdom to solve the world's difficult problems of poverty governance. Lastly, while China is growing in its own right, it is also taking on international responsibilities, carrying forward the traditional virtues of the Chinese people to help each other, to help each other and to help the poor and the needy. It has made a unique contribution to the international community's efforts to eradicate poverty. 3. The contemporary value of anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics 3.1 Theoretical value First, it has advanced the contemporary development of Marxist anti-poverty theory. Marx and Engels revealed the reality that working people in capitalist societies are exploited by capital, criticised the problems of labour alienation, exploitation and the division between rich and poor that exist in capitalist societies, and proposed a programme for the proletariat to escape from poverty and achieve freedom, i.e. overthrowing capitalist exploitative rule through violent revolution and eliminating private ownership. Drawing fully on Marxist anti-poverty theory, the CPC established the dictatorship of the proletariat to provide leadership and institutional guarantees for the development of anti-poverty. By vigorously developing the economy and raising the level of productive forces, it provided the material basis for the fight against poverty. The Communist Party of China (CPC) has constantly improved and developed its anti-poverty ideology and theories in the BCP Social Sciences & Humanities ECSS 2022 Volume 19 (2022) 59 light of the development of the poverty problem in China, and has consistently promoted the anti- poverty course, flexibly and effectively adjusting its anti-poverty policies in the course of the staged anti-poverty process, so that the people can see the results of the anti-poverty campaign and have firm confidence in it. It is by combining basic Marxist theories with the actual situation in China that the Communist Party of China has been able to lead the Chinese people to achieve comprehensive poverty eradication and the ambitious goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects. Second, it has enriched the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the latest achievement of the Chinese- ization of Marxism and the crystallization of practical experience and collective wisdom of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This theoretical system contains the practical exploration and theoretical innovation of our Party and State in the field of anti-poverty in various periods. As society continues to develop, socialism with Chinese characteristics will be faced with many new situations that require constant forward development in practice. Strengthening the study of anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics will help to enrich, improve and develop the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the field of anti-poverty. 3.2 Value in practice First, it has strengthened the theoretical guidance on anti-poverty practices with Chinese characteristics. China has already eliminated absolute poverty and built a moderately prosperous society in all aspects. However, the task of eliminating poverty is not yet complete, and anti-poverty practices will continue to develop, with the issue of relative poverty being the focus of anti-poverty in the future. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "after we have fully built a moderately prosperous society in 2020, we will have eliminated absolute poverty, but relative poverty will still exist for a long time. By then, the current anti-poverty initiatives targeting absolute poverty will have to be gradually adjusted to daily assistance measures targeting relative poverty." In terms of the long-term goal of achieving common prosperity, which is still a long way off, we must adhere to the anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics as our guide, continue to liberate and develop the productive forces, deepen reforms across the board, and promote anti-poverty practices in the course of development. Secondly, it has enhanced the discourse of socialism with Chinese characteristics. China's great achievements in the field of anti-poverty have strongly supported the construction of a socialist discourse system with Chinese characteristics. It is often said that he who wins the hearts of the people wins the world. The anti-poverty practice led by the Communist Party of China has enabled hundreds of millions of people to get rid of poverty and win the hearts of the people. Strengthening theoretical research on anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics and conducting theoretical summaries of socialist anti-poverty practice with Chinese characteristics is conducive to better publicising China's great achievements against poverty, and to better telling the story of China's fight against poverty, so that we can better convince people by telling facts, impress them with images, infect them with emotions and influence them with reasoning, so that the general public will more firmly support the leadership of the CPC and make Our Party can better unite and lead the people in their struggle to eliminate poverty and achieve common prosperity. At the same time, through theoretical research, summarising China's successful experience and theoretical achievements in fighting poverty is conducive to "using Chinese theory to explain Chinese practice, using Chinese practice to sublimate Chinese theory, presenting Chinese ideas more distinctly and putting forward Chinese ideas more loudly" and enhancing China's right to speak in the world. 4. Summary In retrospect, China has made historic achievements and progress in poverty eradication, creating a great miracle in the history of the Chinese nation's fight against poverty and the world's fight against poverty. Practice has proved that the anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics has profoundly BCP Social Sciences & Humanities ECSS 2022 Volume 19 (2022) 60 revealed the basic laws of precise poverty alleviation and eradication, systematically expounded the concepts and methods, institutional mechanisms and models and paths of poverty alleviation and development, and developed and innovated the Chinese Marxist anti-poverty theory. References [1] Xi Jinping. Speech at the national summing-up and commendation conference on poverty eradication [N]. People's Daily, 2021-02-26(002). [2] Xi Jinping. Excerpts from Xi Jinping's Discourse on Poverty Alleviation [M]. Beijing: Central Literature Publishing House, 2018. [3] Xi Jinping. Selected important documents since the 18th National Congress [M]. Beijing:Central Literature Publishing House, 2018. [4] Xi Jinping. Making the rural revitalization strategy the general grasp of the "three rural areas" in the new era [J]. Seeking truth, 2019. [5] Literature Research Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Excerpts from Xi Jinping's discourse on socialist cultural construction [M]. Beijing: Central Literature Publishing House, 2017. 1. Introduction 2. Basic features of anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics 2.1 Peoplehood: relying on the people, serving the people 2.2 Relevance: problem-oriented and up-to-date 2.3 Comprehensiveness: integrated planning and collaborative promotion 2.4 Precision: practice-based and precise 2.5 Innovation: pioneering and pragmatic 2.6 Worldwide: Chinese solutions, Chinese wisdom 3. The contemporary value of anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics 3.1 Theoretical value 3.2 Value in practice 4. Summary References