Mai Chengzhu, head of Tiandeng county, is interviewed by people.cn. [Photo/gx.people.cn]

During his interview with people.cn, Mai Chengzhu, head of Tiandeng county, advised Guangxi to name Tiandeng a China-Vietnam Cross-Border Labor Cooperation Pilot County and allow it to enjoy preferential policies for border counties.

According to Mai, 2019 is a crucial year for Tiandeng county, as the work report of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region People's Government has listed it as one of 21 counties to eliminate poverty.

The goal is to lift 17,826 impoverished locals, 4,458 impoverished households, and 17 impoverished villages out of poverty this year. The poverty occurrence rate is expected to drop below 2.4 percent.

Tiandeng, just eight kilometers from the border with Vietnam, highlighted the importance of building infrastructure in border areas and improving living standards on the border.

Naming Tiandeng a China-Vietnam Cross-Border Labor Cooperation Pilot County will boost local socioeconomic development in light of surging demand for labor in poverty-alleviation workshops, said Mai.