On July 3rd, the Thematic Session on Poverty Reduction and Development of the Third China-CELAC Ministerial Forum on Agriculture, (the Fourth CELAC-China Forum on Poverty Reduction and Development) was held in Weifang, Shandong Province. H.E. Ma Youxiang, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.

[if !supportLists]H. E. Ma Youxiang stated that the China-CELAC Forum has become an essential platform for gathering friendship forces, strengthening South-South cooperation, and promoting the construction of a China-CELAC community with a shared future. To further deepen China-CELAC cooperation, we should expand exchanges following the spirit of openness. China plans to establish the Global Alliance for Poverty Reduction and Development in order to build consensus, form a strong synergy, and jointly address the challenges of global poverty reduction and sustainable development. With a pragmatic attitude, we will enhance the effectiveness of the Forum. China is willing to cooperate with Latin American and Caribbean countries and relevant U.N. agencies to continue to host the CELAC-China Forum on Poverty Reduction and Development, ensuring that the Forum always conforms to the trends of the times and closely aligns with the concerns of all parties. China consistently follows the principles of equality, mutual respect, and mutual benefit, fully respects the self-development aspirations of other countries, and further strengthens practical cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean countries in key areas such as agriculture and poverty reduction, setting an example for South-South cooperation. With the concept of sharing, we will enhance mutual learning and reference. Through bilateral and multilateral channels, we will carry out exchanges and cooperation, achieve complementary advantages, and promote continuous new progress and achievements in China and global poverty reduction and development.

Other guests who attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches included H.E. Laura Elena Suazo Torres, Secretary of Agriculture and Livestock, Honduras; H.E. Ou Jianhong, Ambassador of the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China; H.E. Gloria Ann Thomas, Minister of Social and Community Development, Housing, and Gender Affairs, Grenada, and H.E. Benjamín Blanco, Undersecretary of Cooperation, Technical Assistance, and Support to
Relatively Less Economically Developed Countries, Latin American Association of Integration.

With the theme of "Promoting the Global Development Initiative and Deepening  CELAC-China Poverty Reduction Cooperation", the Forum was attended by over 100 participants, including high-level representatives from government departments of 14 CELAC member countries such as Honduras, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, the Bahamas, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, as well as diplomats from embassies and consulates in China, international organizations, experts and scholars, media representatives, and business representatives. The participants jointly discussed how to deepen poverty reduction cooperation between China and CELAC member countries and promote the development of global poverty reduction under the framework of the Global Development Initiative.

The Forum was co-hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China and the People's Government of Shandong Province and organized by the International Poverty Reduction Center in China.