Shenzhen, Hechi have remarkable success in alleviating poverty

Great results spanning industry development, project construction, and talent cultivation have been achieved since Shenzhen, Guangdong province was paired with Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region to support the city's poverty alleviation efforts in 2016.

Shenzhen and Hechi have strengthened industry integration. The two cities have initiated the construction of the Shenzhen-Bama Big Health Cooperative Special Pilot Zone, which will focus on the three core business formats of health food, service, and technology, covering seven industries including natural drinking water, longevity food, healthcare, premium sports, conferences and exhibitions, biotechnology, as well as specialty medicine.

At present, Hechi has signed a cooperation framework agreement with Shenzhen Investment Holding Co Ltd on the development and construction of the pilot zone. A total of 43 Shenzhen enterprises have been introduced in the zone and officially signed 34 cooperation projects. The total investment is estimated to be 33.9 billion yuan ($4.91 billion), of which 3.38 billion yuan has been invested.

The two cities have improved labor cooperation to minimize the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Chartered buses were arranged to help migrant workers return back to work and online recruitment was launched to help impoverished people find jobs.

Since the beginning of this year, 29 various labor training courses have been organized, training 4,808 people. A total of 4,309 people found employment through the Shenzhen poverty alleviation labor service coordination mechanism, of which 2,321 were employed in Guangdong province and 1,649 were employed nearby Hechi.

Shenzhen has promoted 207 million yuan in the purchase and sale of agricultural, forestry, and animal husbandry products, which directly lifted 14,382 impoverished people out of poverty. Moreover, Hechi has signed purchase intention agreements with Shenzhen's large supermarkets and leading enterprises to send a batch of local products to the Guangdong- Hong Kong- Macao Greater Bay Area market.

In addition, 95 private enterprises and social organizations in Shenzhen have been paired to provide assistance to 37 impoverished villages in Hechi, signed 103 assistance agreements, as well as invested 14.76 million yuan, helping build 249 water tanks, repair the houses of 260 households, renovate 20 village-level service centers, construct 24 roads, and develop 20 industrial projects.