A herdsman awaits tourists at Nam Co Lake in Tibet Autonomous Region, southwest China, Nov. 23, 2019. (Xinhua/Chen Dakang)

LHASA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Around 150,000 people have cast off poverty in 2019, and around 19 counties have been removed from the poverty list in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, said Qizhala, chairman of the regional government.

A total of 155,000 people have received employment training and 186,000 people benefited from job placement projects supported by the local government, said Qizhala in his government work report delivered at the ongoing third session of the 11th People's Congress of Tibet Autonomous Region.

In 2020, Tibet will continue to give priority to poverty relief, Qizhala added.

China has set 2020 as the target year to eradicate absolute poverty. ■