Mozambique's Minister of Planning and Development says China's experience in agricultural modernization could help developing countries tackle poverty and expand employment opportunities. Salim Ismael Vala spoke to CGTN on the sidelines of the 2026 Global Poverty Reduction and Development Forum in Beijing. He says cooperation with China is helping Mozambique improve productivity, strengthen technical capacity, and support small producers through projects such as the "Africa Bridge" initiative.

HUANG YUE CGTN Reporter "Last year, an agricultural poverty reduction project named 'Africa Bridge' was launched in Mozambique. How's the project running so far? And what are some of the main cooperation programs under this project?"

SALIM ISMAEL VALA Mozambican Minister of Planning and Development "This Africa Bridge program is an ongoing program in partnership with the Chinese government in the area of agricultural development in Mozambique, and several actions are being carried out: technical assistance, extension, research, support and access to improved technologies. This will allow for increased productivity in agriculture, in the main crops, particularly cereals, vegetables, and tubers, with great support from China's experience in modernizing agriculture, including extension, mechanization and agricultural irrigation, which are some of the challenges we have today to increase production, increase productivity, and allow small producers to have higher incomes by developing agriculture."

HUANG YUE CGTN Reporter "Mozambique plans to mobilize $2.7 billion under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan for 2025-2029. In what areas of this plan do you see the greatest potential for China-Mozambique cooperation to reduce poverty?"

SALIM ISMAEL VALA Mozambican Minister of Planning and Development "We believe that China can provide significant support to the Mozambican government, to support production and productivity, in order to create greater dynamism. So, infrastructure replacement and improved producer capacity building through programs like Africa Bridge can be an important catalyst, enabling training, technical assistance, promotion of market linkages and financing, so that rural producers, not only in agriculture but also in fishing, who develop small businesses and small industries, can increase their income, but also meet a very important challenge we have faced, which is the generation of more jobs."