While the global economic crisis still threatens to trap tens of mil-lions of people in extreme pover-ty, alleviation initiatives in China are gaining new momentum and increasing recognition from the international commu-nity. From lifting innumerable people out of poverty by satisfying basic needs of food, clothes and shelter during the past three decades, the Chinese Government"s anti-poverty drive is now to focus more on help-ing rural poor to start small businesses and guaranteeing access to public services and social welfare.