Since 2016, Zhongshan has aided Zhaotong City in Yunnan Province. The four counties of Yanjin, Daguan, Yongshan and Suijiang have all reached the poverty alleviation standard thanks to the assistance from Zhongshan. More than 50,000 people have been lifted out of poverty and more than 200,000 people have benefited directly.

A press conference held on the morning of April 8 detailed the poverty alleviation and cooperation efforts between Zhongshan and Zhaotong City:

Since 2016, Zhongshan has invested 2.85 billion yuan in aid, including 930 million yuan in financial aid, 240 million yuan in social aid, and 1.68 billion yuan in enterprise investment.

Zhongshan has constructed 4 demonstration resettlement sites for poverty alleviation and relocation, 114 village clinics, and 4 schools. Zhongshan has also implemented construction projects of 29 teaching buildings and school facilities, renovated 1,145 dilapidated buildings in rural areas, supported the construction of 2 local industrial parks, and developed over 300 industrial projects;

Zhongshan has mobilized 28 eastern enterprises such as Zhongshan Xingzhong Group, Zhongshan House of Sapling, Jundi Group, and Zhongzhi Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited to establish sub-branches in Zhaotong, built 15 poverty alleviation workshops, guided enterprises to invest 1.68 billion yuan, and helped sell Zhaotong's special agricultural products worth 170 million yuan.

Over the past 4 years, Zhongshan has organized 42,973 impoverished Zhaotong citizens to go out and work in Guangdong and other places.