On May 8, 2024, the First Seminar on Poverty Reduction and Development for African Officials opened in Leshan City, Sichuan Province. Ms. Li Xin, Deputy Director General of IPRCC, Ms. Huang Yu, Deputy Director General of Sichuan Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Mr. Ma Bo, Secretary of the Leshan Municipal Party Committee, and Mr. Chen Guanghao, Mayor of Leshan City, Sichuan Province, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Mrs. Delu Yakubu Bulus, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation of Nigeria, delivered a speech on behalf of the participants from African countries.
Ms. Li Xin pointed out that since entering the new era, President Xi Jinping has put forth “sincerity, real results, amity and good faith” as the principles for China to develop its relations with Africa and the vision of promoting common good and shared interests, continuously delivering real results for China-Africa exchanges and cooperation on poverty reduction. This seminar is a new exploration and practice of China-Africa poverty reduction exchange and cooperation. It is hoped that all the participants will actively participate in the activities of the seminar, see and feel the effectiveness of China’s poverty reduction and the new development of rural revitalization, we exchange views, share experiences, learn from each other, and contribute to China-Africa poverty reduction exchange and cooperation.
Ms. Huang Yu said that at present, Sichuan Province is promoting the consolidation and expansion of the results of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, with a view to achieving common prosperity. She hoped that the participants can have in-depth exchanges, enhance friendship and cooperation through this seminar. Mr. Ma Bo said that, Leshan City has focused on “Two Assurances and Three Guarantees”, i.e. assurances of adequate food and clothing, and guarantees of access to compulsory education, basic medical services and safe housing for impoverished rural residents, with detailed and concrete efforts. It has removed the millennia-old poverty on the Xiaoliangshan Yi autonomous region, which has achieved prosperity in step with the province and the country. Leshan City will take this seminar as an opportunity to continue to strengthen international exchanges and cooperation in poverty reduction, tourism and other areas, and to due contributions to the cause of global poverty reduction. Mr. Chen Guanghao introduced the situation of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization in Leshan City.
Mrs. Bulus said that Africa remains one of the most peaceful and contented people in the world, but it is also one of the world’s poorest regions, with many people living below the poverty line. Therefore, poverty reduction is an important issue for African countries in achieving sustainable economic and social development. She thanked China for its
support for African countries over the years, noting that African countries should actively engage in international exchanges and cooperation on poverty reduction, and reduce poverty in Africa through cooperation in various fields such as agriculture, economy, education, health, social safety nets and finance.
The seminar is guided by the Chinese Follow-up Committee of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), hosted by IPRCC, and supported by the Sichuan Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Party Committee and People’s Government of Leshan Municipality. The 8-day seminar involves a total of 27 participants from six countries, including Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
