BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- China has pledged continued efforts to develop education for children in poverty-striken areas, according to an article by Education Minister Chen Baosheng in the Guangming Daily on Friday.

Prioritizing children's education in impoverished areas, Chen called for more efforts to balance educational resources between urban and rural areas, thus promoting social equity and stopping poverty passing through generations.

"China has taken various measures in this regard, including improving school facilities and student nutrition, and helping more students from rural and impoverished areas have access to higher education," according to the article.

"The central government has spent 162 billion yuan (23 billion U.S. dollars) so far to improve facilities and operations of nearly 220,000 rural schools, with 832 impoverished counties having completed the construction in advance.

"The student nutrition program has been extended to cover more than 37 million primary and middle-school students from 140,000 rural schools nationwide.

"China will continue its cooperation with other countries in the fight against poverty, and the development of children."