Seminar on Realization of the UN MDGs for Officials from Francophone Africa Closed in Beijing

29 November, 2012 --- The closing ceremony of the Seminar on Realization of the UN MDGs for Officials from Francophone Africa, sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China and organized by IPRCC, was held in Fraternal Cooperation International Hotel, Beijing. Lasting for 15 days, this seminar involved 27 representatives from the government organs related to poverty reduction and development of 11 countries, including Congo (Kinshasa), Djibouti, Guinea, Comorin, Cote d'ivoire, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Chad and Central Africa. At the closing ceremony, Financial Minister Mr. Ouattara Brahima of Cote d'ivoire and IPRCC Assistant Director General Wang Shu made closing remarks.

              

Themed on “Realization of the UN MDGs”, the 15-day seminar comprised three parts – expert lectures, country-specific presentations and field trip. 10 expert lectures were organized, covering the results and strategies of China’s national economic and social development, China’s progress and experience in achieving the MDGs, the strategic system and basic model of China’s rural poverty reduction, the management mechanism and policy system of China’s labor employment, the development patterns and experience of China’s rural education, health, eco-environment, women development and social guarantee as well as the influence of international development aid on China’s poverty reduction. With regard to country-specific presentations, representatives of all participating countries were invited to present their own MDGs progress and experience. Besides, participants made a field trip to Hubei Province, inspected the new rural construction and industrial development projects in Hukou and Gaogongqiao Villages, Bajiao Township, Enshi City; industry-led poverty alleviation, education and health development, social security and labor employment projects in Dongxiacao Village, Baiyangping Township, Enshi City; industrial development, village environmental improvement and eco-protection projects in Wu’er Village, Baoba Township, Lichuan City; characteristic industry development, education and health development, village environmental improvement and women development projects in Jiujiandian, Banliao and Aishan Villages, Gaoluo Township, Xuan’en County; as well as village-based development and contiguous development-oriented poverty alleviation projects in the old revolutionary base area of Tianba Village, Jiaoyuan Town, Xuanen County.

This seminar promoted the policy sharing and experience sharing between China and African countries in poverty reduction and development, analyzed the problems and challenges faced by these countries in achieving the MDGs, and enhanced their cooperation in the field of poverty reduction.