Beijing, 15 December 2020 - The "Dialogue on China’s Poverty Reduction Experience" seminar was successfully held online. This seminar is hosted by the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP) and organised by the International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC). As one of the sub-forums of the "International Forum on Sharing Poverty Reduction Experience", the seminar aims to enhance knowledge sharing on poverty reduction practice among China, ASEAN and African countries, as well as relevant international organizations and NGOs, etc. and offers Chinese wisdom and solutions to the eradication of absolute poverty on a global scale. More than 40 guest speakers from the government departments of China, ASEAN and African countries, international organizations and international non-governmental organizations, embassies and think tanks participated in the seminar online and shared experience and ideas on the theme of "Targeted Poverty Alleviation and Elimination of Absolute poverty".

Ms. SU Guoxia, Director General of the Department of General Affairs, Spokesperson of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development of China and Mr. LIAO Wenhui, Deputy Director General of the International Coordination Department, the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China attended the opening ceremony.

H.E. Mr. Vladimir Norov, Secretary-General of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, H.E. Mr. Marie Roland Alain Wong Yen Cheong, Ambassador of the Republic of Mauritius to China, H.E. Mr. Amb/Rahamtalla M. Osman, Resident Representative of African Union (AU) Beijing, and H.E. Mr. Mbelwa Kairuki, Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania to China sent their video speeches for the opening ceremony.

Ms. SU Guoxia remarked in her speech that as the most populous developing country in the world, China has always regarded poverty elimination and improvement of people’s livelihood as its governing philosophy. Since its reform and opening up in 1978, China has established poverty alleviation standards in stages, designated key areas to provide state-level support, formulated mid- and long-term poverty reduction plans, and will continue the endeavour of poverty reduction. There are two essential approaches to achieve the final victory in poverty elimination: a) implementing targeted poverty alleviation strategy; and b) adopting unconventional policy measures.  Director General SU stressed that as the current pandemic is still spreading, the global poverty reduction process is facing severe challenges. China is willing to work with all nations over the world to respond to various crises and challenges, firmly continue the effort of poverty reduction, and continue to work towards building a community with a shared future for mankind, which is free from poverty and with common prosperity.

The seminar had two discussion sessions. The first session focused on the policies and practices of China, ASEAN countries and international institutions to eliminate absolute poverty. Mr. Gauden Galea, World Health Organization (WHO) representative in China, Mr. Khamouane Khamphoukeo, Acting Director General of Rural Development and Cooperatives Department of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Lao PDR, Mr. Matteo Marchisio, International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) Country Representative in China, Mr. Richard Tan, Senior Director of Women Development and International Relations Division of Ministry of Social and Family Development in Singapore, Prof. Robert Walker of Beijing Normal University and other guests delivered their speeches. The second session discussed the poverty reduction policies and practices of China, African countries and international institutions. Guest speakers in this session include Mr. LU Mai, Vice President of China Development Research Foundation, Mr. Ruslan Yemtsov, Human Development Program Leader of the World Bank for China, Korea and Mongolia, and Ms. Marielza Oliveira, the Representative of UNESCO to China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia and the Republic of Korea and other speakers.

Dr. TAN Weiping, Deputy Director General of IPRCC, moderated the second session of the seminar and made a concluding speech. Ms. LI Xin, Deputy Director General of IPRCC moderated the opening ceremony.  

The "International Forum on Sharing Poverty Reduction Experience" is co-hosted by the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP) and the State Council Information Office of China. The opening ceremony of the main forum was convened on the evening of 14 December. Mr. HUANG Kunming, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and Minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the opening ceremony and read a message of congratulation from Chinese President XI Jinping and delivered a keynote speech. Mr. LIU Yongfu, Minister of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP), made a keynote speech at the main forum. On 15 December, five sub-forums were hosted simultaneously online: 1) “Dialogue on China’s Poverty Reduction Experience", 2) “Theory and Practice of International Poverty Reduction”, 3) “Financial Support for International Poverty Reduction”, 4) “Media Exchanges on International Poverty Reduction”, and 5) “Launch of Global Young Leaders Dialogue Program: Poverty Reduction and Innovation”. 

The series of main forum and sub-forums have a total participation of more than 200 Chinese and foreign participants (140 of which are foreign guests) from more than 60 countries and 20 international organizations.