BEIJING -- Hu Chunhua, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Tuesday called for solid efforts to win the battle against poverty.

Hu, also chief of the State Council leading group on poverty alleviation and development, made the remarks while presiding over a meeting of the leading group in Beijing.

Authorities should overcome difficulties to ensure the completion of the remaining poverty-alleviation tasks by year-end, Hu said.

Efforts should be made to ensure compulsory education, basic medical care and safe housing as well as safe drinking water for the poor, and to help poor migrant workers secure jobs, he said.

He also stressed stepping up monitoring and timely assistance to prevent people from falling back into poverty.