30 October to 8 November, 2012 --- A Tanzanian delegation of senior officials led by Mr. Ombeni Y. Sefue, Chief Secretary of the United Republic of Tanzania paid a visit to China at the invitation of IPRCC to further promote poverty reduction cooperation between China and Tanzania. This visit was one of the major events in terms of poverty reduction cooperation with Africa launched by China this year.

The theme of the visit was “Public Service System Construction and Inclusive Growth: China’s Experience”. On the morning of October 30, LGOP Minister Fan Xiaojian met with and gave a banquet in honor of the delegation. At the meeting, Fan briefed them on the policies and practices on poverty issues adopted by the Chinese government during the reform and development, the experience in enhancing the development capacity of the poor with policy and social support as well as self-reliance, and the main points of the Outline for Poverty Reduction and Development of China’s Rural Areas (2001-2010). During their stay in Beijing, the delegation also visited the Development Research Center of the State Council, the Academy of Macroeconomic Research, NDRC, the Institute for Fiscal Science Research, China Development Research Foundation, and China National School of Administration to learn China’s policies and practical experience in boosting the equality of basic public services and other relevant experience in improving local governments’ implementation and promoting reforms by governance capability construction. It also visited China-Africa Agricultural Investment Co., Ltd. and held in-depth discussions on enhancing the agricultural collaboration between China and Africa and promoting poverty reduction by agricultural development. Lü Youqing, the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania who was on his stay in Beijing also attended the meeting.

From November 4 to 8, 2012, accompanied by IPRCC Deputy Director General He Xiaojun, the delegation went to Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region for inspection and met with Chen Zhangliang, Vice Chairman of Guangxi Autonomous Region People’s Government. During their visit, it also had a discussion with Wu Yuxiong, Director of Guangxi Poverty Alleviation Office, Peng Dongguang, Chief of the Organization Department of Guangxi Party Committee, who introduced the situation of poverty alleviation and how to strengthen the building of rural grassroots organizations, cultivate and select young cadres through sending “the first secretary”, “the new rural construction instructor” and “university-graduate village official” to the grassroots. Subsequently, the delegation headed for Nanning Minorities Community Center, Long’an Traditional Chinese Medicine Demonstration Base for Poverty Alleviation through Agricultural Industrialization, Nanwei Junior Middle School, Xin’an Township Central Hospital of Pingguo County, Baiyu Township Administration Service Center of Tianyang County, exchanged views with local cadres, masses, teachers and students and learned about the governance capability of the grassroots governments, the status quo and achievements of the equalization of public services, children feeding program in poor areas and rural medical and health services. During the summing-up meeting, the Tanzanian delegation said they were all impressed by this visit, China’s experience can be used for reference by Tanzania and hoped that IPRCC would continue to play an active role as a South-South Cooperation platform to conduct multi-tiered multi-subject poverty reduction exchanges and cooperation activities.

Since its establishment, IPRCC has stepped up its cooperation in poverty reduction with African countries. It is worth noting that a range of exchange activities concerning poverty reduction and development have been jointly held by IPRCC and the Tanzanian government and produced positive effects. Since 2010, IPRCC has invited Tanzanian senior officials to visit China for three consecutive years, during which two seminars have been organized for Tanzania upon invitation.