How can China eliminate extreme poverty?

H.E. Zhang Yiming



In February this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping solemnly declared that China's victory in the battle against poverty was completed: the 98.99 million people in rural areas who were living below the current poverty threshold had all shook off poverty; all the 128 000 impoverished villages and 832 designated poor counties got rid of poverty, which meant China completed the arduous task of eliminating extreme poverty and accomplished the first target of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule.

Since 1978, China's population that has been lifted out of poverty accounts for more than 70 percent of the global total over the same period according to the World Bank's international poverty standard. Poverty is a long-term and common problem facing all mankind.

How can China make poverty alleviation achievements acknowledged throughout the world and unprecedented pioneering efforts in the history of human poverty reduction?

China's State Council Information Office recently issued a white paper titled 'Poverty Alleviation: China's Experience and Contribution', which elaborated on China's practice and experience in poverty reduction. Here I would like to share it with friends in Namibia.

The first is sticking to people-centred philosophy. The problem of poverty, in essence, is how the people should be treated: the people-centred philosophy is the fundamental driving force behind this cause.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). In the face of all the changes in the international landscape and the domestic situation over the past century, the Party has always followed a people-centred philosophy.

It has borne in mind its founding mission to seek happiness for the Chinese people and national rejuvenation, and unite and lead the people in fighting poverty armed with firm convictions and a strong will.

Especially since the 18th National Congress of the Party, the CPC has adopted a series of bold policies and measures to advance the cause and concentrated its efforts on guaranteeing the basic needs of the poor.

It would rather cut down on the number of major projects, penalise short-term, partial or local interests, or slow the pace of economic growth to ensure the task of poverty alleviation is accomplished on schedule. In the fight against poverty, officials and Party members have worked with diligence to fulfil the happiness of the poor.

More than 1 800 Party members and officials have lost their lives in the cause of poverty alleviation. China's poverty elimination effort is a full and vivid expression of its people-centred philosophy and the CPC's mission of serving the people wholeheartedly.

The second is insisting on state leadership. Poverty alleviation is a pioneering and arduous trek, which determines that poverty cannot be eliminated by relying solely on the efforts of individuals, local governments, or non-governmental forces.

Poverty elimination requires will and action at national level, and it must be elevated to a national strategy. The CPC has always regarded poverty alleviation as an important task for ensuring national peace and stability. It has highlighted poverty alleviation at national level when setting its guidelines, principles and policies, and when formulating national plans for medium and long-term development. The Party has pooled national resources to advance this cause and motivated generations of its members to devote themselves to this cause, and work together towards the same goal.