BEIJING -- Wang Yang said the novel coronavirus epidemic is the biggest factor affecting this year's poverty relief work, and demanded resolute efforts to overcome such impact.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, made the remarks Tuesday at a symposium with leaders of non-Communist parties on supervising poverty relief.

"The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 brings challenges to the battle against poverty," Wang said, calling for efforts from non-Communist parties to analyze the impact of the epidemic on the realization of poverty alleviation goals in deep poverty-stricken areas and carry out democratic oversight to make sure local authorities direct funds and policies to severely impoverished areas, as well as areas and populations severely affected by the epidemic.

Wang also called on non-Communist parties to conduct in-depth research on major issues on poverty alleviation and to put forward high-quality policy suggestions to the CPC Central Committee.

China is aiming to lift all rural residents living below the current poverty line out of poverty and eliminate poverty in all poor counties and regions by 2020. Wang called for efforts to ensure the historic task of poverty relief is completed on schedule.