This paper was originally commissioned by the United Nations Development Program as a complement to China：Overcoming Rural Poverty-a report issued by the World Bank based on a tripartite study undertaken in October and November 1998 by the government's Leading Group for Poverty Reduction（LGPR），the World Bank and UNDP. An earlier and shorter version appeared in that study as an Annex，entitled "Policies for Poverty Reduction in China." This UNDP report also benefited from collaboration between UNDP and the International Labor Organization（ILO）. It expands on specific topics considered by UNDP to deserve greater consideration in the development of China's future poverty reduction strategy. Where there is general agreement with the World Bank report，the data and findings are not repeated here，but reference is made to that report where appropriate.