KUNMING, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- A total of 866,400 people moved into new houses in southwest China's Yunnan Province in 2019, thanks to the government's program to reduce poverty through relocation.

The provincial reform and development commission made the announcement at a press conference Thursday.

Construction of 244,855 houses were completed as of the end of last year for almost 1 million poor residents previously living in areas deemed unsuitable for living in rural areas.

Authorities tore down 159,000 old houses and returned the land for afforestation.

China aims to eradicate absolute poverty by 2020.