The International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) on Poverty Alleviation:

On the occasion of the ICAPP Conference on Poverty Alleviation, I hereby would like to extend, on behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government, our warm congratulations on the convening of the Conference and a heartfelt welcome to the representatives of various Asian political parties participating in the event.

Poverty reduction and development is the common challenge confronted by the international community. It is the universal aspiration of the developing countries and their people as well as the compelling obligation of various political parties in the developing world to achieve the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and promote the common development of all countries.

Since its initiation, ICAPP has regarded eradicating poverty and promoting development as the key issues on its agenda. Various Asian political parties have attached great importance to the international cause of poverty reduction and development, and have made positive efforts in this regard.

Since its founding, particularly over the thirty-year reform and opening up, China has been paying high attention to the mitigation and eradication of poverty. Through painstaking exploration, tenacious struggle and wide mobilization of social forces, the CPC, Chinese government and Chinese people have blazed a trail of poverty reduction and development in accord with China’s national conditions, and have achieved the historical leap from inadequate food and clothing to overall moderate prosperity. China’s rural poverty-stricken population fell from 250 million in 1978 to 35.97 million in 2009. At the same time, we are clearly aware that China remains the world’s largest developing country, and that the Chinese people are united together in an effort to build a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way so as to basically achieve modernization. It is a long-term and arduous task of China to adhere to the principle of people first in promoting the comprehensively coordinated and sustainable socioeconomic development, and to further eradicate poverty to achieve common prosperity. The CPC, Chinese government and Chinese people will continue to make unremitting efforts for this purpose.

China has long been carrying out international exchanges and cooperation on poverty reduction and development. The CPC is willing to join hands with various Asian political parties to constantly advance the cause of poverty reduction and development in Asia, make positive contributions to the achievement of UN MDGs, promote the development of state-to-state relations and friendly exchanges between peoples, and jointly push forward the creation of a harmonious society featuring lasting peace and common prosperity.

Wish this conference a complete success.

Wish ICAPP a growingly better future. 　

Hu Jintao General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China President of the People’s Republic of China