ASEAN-China poverty reduction forum opens in Nanning

The 13th ASEAN-China Forum on Social Development and Poverty Reduction was held in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region from June 26 to 28, assembling more than 200 officials and experts from China and ASEAN countries, as well as representatives of international organizations.

Sponsored by the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation Development and the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the forum placed an emphasis on China-ASEAN poverty reduction cooperation for sustainable development.

Chen Wu, deputy director of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation Development, noted at the forum that China and ASEAN have held the poverty reduction forum for 13 consecutive years since 2007, and that it has become an important platform for exchanges and cooperation between China and ASEAN to build a shared community with mutual benefits.

Over the past 40 years, China's reform and opening up has successfully lifted more than 700 million people out of poverty, contributing more than 70 percent to the world's poverty alleviation.

Chen said that China is willing to work with ASEAN countries to promote social development and poverty alleviation, as well as strengthen exchange and cooperation on poverty alleviation.

The forum included arrangements for representatives of ASEAN countries to make national speeches and discussions regarding poverty reduction in their country. In addition to providing an introduction to the progress made in poverty reduction in their respective countries, the representatives also shared their successful experiences.

Noel K. Felongco, secretary of Philippines National Anti-Poverty Commission, said that ASEAN countries should strengthen poverty reduction partnerships with China, exchange practices on rural revitalization and poverty reduction, as well as promote links between rural and urban areas. ASEAN countries and China can yield mutually beneficial results in their poverty reduction efforts to achieve regional sustainable development goals.

Representatives also conducted discussions at the forum on subjects like cross-border e-commerce, regional interconnection, and industrial transfer. In the future, they will conduct field visits to poverty alleviation projects in Nanning.