China's Xinjiang shakes off absolute poverty (8)

A worker is busy at a garment factory in Boyila Village of Shache County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, May 23, 2020. The garment factory has provided job opportunities for more than 100 local villagers. In a historic feat, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has bidden farewell to absolute poverty. The last 10 impoverished counties in Xinjiang have managed to end absolute poverty, the regional government announced Saturday. The 10 counties, including Shache County, Moyu County and Akto County, are no longer impoverished counties by official standards, the local government said in an online statement. All the 10 counties are in southern Xinjiang, where the country's largest desert is located. Local people used to have limited access to stable income and public services due to the harsh natural environment and poor infrastructure. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)