Chinese president Xi Jinping declared that the country has achieved a “complete victory” over absolute poverty.

According to the state media, Xinhua news agency Xi said, “The final 98.99 million impoverished residents living under the current poverty line have all been lifted out of poverty.”

The successful alleviation of poverty by the largest population in the world has gained global praise. China has contributed to more than 70% global poverty reduction in the past 40 years.

The central government led by Xi managed to lift at least 832 national-level counties out of poverty in the past eight years.