April 1, 2009---the IPRCC and the World Bank jointly held a thematic lecture at the Center’s second Celebrity Forum, at which Dr. Ardo Hansson， Chief of the Economics Unit and Lead Economist at the World Bank Beijing Office，and Professor Hans P. Binswanger-Mkhize Honorary Professor of Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa， were invited to make presentations on The World Bank's Strategy and Initiative on South-South Cooperation and The Changing Context and Prospects for Agriculture and Rural Development in Africa. The lecture was chaired by Dr. Wu Zhong, Director General of the IPRCC.

Dr. Hansson elaborated on the World Bank’s strategic positioning in South-South Cooperation, its global strategy and initiatives for Africa in particular, its cooperation with China in South-South Cooperation as well as some of the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Starting out with the poverty profile of Sub-Saharan Africa, Dr. Hans Binswanger talked about Africa’s macro-economic conditions, agricultural development and constraints with a focus on the challenges and opportunities presented by the current food crisis and higher international prices. He also touched upon issues such as Africa’s fight against HIV/AIDS and efforts to clarify agricultural research priorities, narrow the technology gap, and enhance capacity building and regional cooperation.

The audience consisted of 100 people from the Leading Group for Poverty Reduction (LGOP) and its affiliated institutions, related international organizations, universities and research institutes. All of the participants  were very active in the Q&A session.