On October 17, 2018, to coincide with the Fifth National Poverty Relief Day, the MOE held the "Poverty Alleviation through Education Forum 2018"in Beijing. Vice Minister of Education Sun Yao attended the forum and delivered a speech.

Sun gave an overview of the measures taken by the MOE following the decisions adopted by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council regarding poverty relief through education.

He identified four pillars of education upholding the success of the national campaign for poverty alleviation. First, educational authorities at all levels had to prioritize poverty relief in action and policies. Second, a principal official accountability mechanism had to be enforced to ensure full and effective implementation of policies. Third, resources and assistance had to be directed to schools in the most economically disadvantaged regions in western China. Fourth, institutional safeguards had to be put in place to prevent organizational inertia and dereliction of duty.

The meeting was also attended by Wei Zengjun, Vice Governor of Shaanxi Province, and representatives of departments under the MOE, education bureaus and offices at provincial and city levels, institutions of higher education, and civil society groups.