Vice-Premier Wang Yang urged local governments to increase support to help lift ethnic groups with smaller populations out of poverty, during a recent inspection in Yunnan province.

Wang inspected the works on poverty alleviation at Pihe township, the only township in China populated by people of Nu ethnic group, on June 13.

Nujiang Lisu autonomous prefecture of Yunnan province, where Pihe township is located, is a harsh borderland with highlands and canyons, and various ethnic groups with smaller populations live there.

Wang called for local authorities to pay great attention to ethnic groups with smaller populations, and adopt more specific measures to help them shake off poverty.

Lifting small ethnic groups out of poverty is a tough issue, said Wang, who urged local governments to make efforts and ensure they have adequate food and clothing, compulsory education, basic medical services, and housing security.

They have to decide whether it is helpful to relocate them or provide support locally, Wang said.

The vice-premier also praised the grass-roots cadres working toward poverty alleviation, and called for local authorities to help them.