The realization of the great goal of poverty alleviation, after solving the problem of absolute poverty, the consolidation and expansion of poverty alleviation in poverty alleviation areas, alleviating relative poverty is the premise to achieve common prosperity. The relative poverty in western China, especially in the minority areas represented by the eight provinces of China, presents such problems as large population, deep relative poverty degree and wide relative poverty dimension, as well as the dilemma of fragile geographical environment, complex factors causing poverty, high risk of returning to poverty and weak endogenous motivation. Based on this, the relative poverty control in the eight ethnic provinces should constantly improve the green poverty reduction mechanism and long‐term poverty prevention mechanism, implement comprehensive and differentiated governance, transform the critical governance into normal governance, and enhance the sustainable development capacity of the poor population.