HARBIN, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province lifted 172,000 people out of poverty last year, the provincial authorities announced Tuesday at the ongoing session of the people's congress of the province.

Ten impoverished counties shook off poverty last year, and up to 93,500 villagers in poverty-striken areas gained access to safe drinking water, authorities said.

The province launched preferential policies for those who live under the poverty line to get better medical treatment. Last year, local hospitals cut medical expenses for more than 85,000 such patients, with government funding of over 2.93 million yuan (433,900 U.S. dollars).

The province aims to help 90,000 rural people escape poverty in 2019.

China aims to eradicate absolute poverty by 2020.