Wang Mingmei, a farmer in Miaowan township in Northwest China's Shaanxi province, gathers shiitake mushrooms at a greenhouse. (CHEN JIA / CHINA DAILY)
Poverty is a chronic affliction of human society and a significant challenge to Africa’s development and governance. Poverty and its associated problems, including hunger, disease and social conflicts, are serious impediments to people’s pursuit of a better life.
China, the largest developing country in the world, with a population of 1.4 billion, has been plagued by poverty for a long time. The Communist Party of China has stayed true to its founding mission and taken on the responsibility of seeking happiness for the people and revival of the nation, uniting and leading people of all ethnic groups, and carrying out the arduous struggle against poverty with unswerving faith. It also has organized and implemented the tough fight against poverty, which is unprecedented in scale and intensity and has benefited the largest population in human history.
From the nation’s liberation to solving food and clothing issues, from basically well-off to moderately prosperous, China has made great contributions to global poverty reduction through its own development.
Since reform and opening-up began, according to current poverty standards, 770 million rural impoverished people in China have been lifted out of poverty. At the important moment of the centenary of the CPC, China won a full victory in the fight against poverty, achieving the poverty reduction goal of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals 10 years ahead of schedule, significantly shrinking the geographical scope of world poverty.
In recent years, Africa has been one of the fastest-growing regions in the world and has achieved substantial progress in poverty reduction. But the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a severe toll on the continent’s economic development and poses a severe challenge to poverty alleviation in African countries.
According to the UN’s 2021 Financing for Sustainable Development Report, the pandemic will cause about 120 million people worldwide to fall back into extreme poverty, and risks of a food shortage will rise in Africa. Under this context, it becomes even more important for all countries to strengthen cooperation in the fight against COVID-19 and poverty.
As a responsible country, China is committed to eliminating its own poverty and actively participating in international poverty reduction cooperation through expert exchanges, cooperative research and technical assistance.
In Africa, China has helped countries build water infrastructure, vocational and technical schools, government-subsidized housing and other facilities. It has also set up demonstration zones for agricultural cooperation, carried out China-Africa cooperation projects involving a Chinese-invented technology using grass to grow mushrooms, and established China-Africa friendship hospitals and the headquarters of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
In addition, China has set up the International Research and Training Center for Rural Education and other institutions in cooperation with UNESCO, and carried out projects on rural education transformation and teacher training for African countries. Not long ago, China and Africa jointly launched the Initiative on Partnership for Africa’s Development, with the aim of converging the strengths of global partnership to help Africa tide over difficulties.
China will continue to uphold the concept of community of shared future for mankind, actively carry out international cooperation, and fulfill its international responsibility.
In the post-pandemic era, China will continue to share its poverty reduction experience with African countries in various ways and help African countries formulate more reasonable and effective national poverty reduction strategies. We will also deepen the connection of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, especially helping to achieve the AU’s aspiration to eradicate poverty in one generation and build a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development.
China will continue to support the construction of the African Continental Free Trade Area so as to enhance the competitiveness and bargaining power of African countries in international trade. Within FOCAC’s upcoming new framework, we will explore more targeted assistance projects to implement more effective poverty reduction programs in Africa.
China’s experience in poverty alleviation indicates that poverty is not predestined, nor is it unconquerable. With strong will and determination, as well as practical action, one can make steady progress toward overcoming poverty and realizing common prosperity.
China is willing to accompany and help Africa in poverty reduction, so that the fruits of China-Africa friendly cooperation can benefit more Chinese and African people.
The author is Chinese ambassador to the African Union.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.