International Cooperation

                   Overview

International exchange and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction is an important part of the poverty alleviation and development path with Chinese characteristics and an important component of the overall situation of China's opening up. The State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP) has been attaching great importance to international exchange and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction. Currently, with the full implementation of the “Outline for Development-oriented Poverty Reduction for China’s Rural Areas (2011-2020)”, the international exchanges and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction mainly target at three aspects: First, to continue to learn from advanced international poverty reduction theory and practice and constantly enrich and improve domestic poverty alleviation and development concepts and mechanisms to enhance the level and capability of our country in poverty alleviation and development, and actively seek and introduce international resources to support domestic poverty alleviation and development; Second, to publicize China’s achievements and experience in poverty alleviation and spread our poverty alleviation ideas and culture to enhance the international influence of China's poverty alleviation and development; Third, to promote the exchanges and interactions between China and the international community in the field of poverty reduction to constantly promote the knowledge and experience sharing between developing countries in the field of social development and poverty reduction and jointly promote the development of the cause of global poverty reduction.

Currently, with the expiring of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and the proposal of the sustainable development goal, international discussion on post-2015 development agenda is increasingly fierce. It has been the core area of concern to the international community to eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable and inclusive development. In the international exchanges and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction, we should constantly make innovations to the mechanisms, consolidate the foundation, expand the channels and improve the platform to serve the economic and social development and the overall diplomatic situation of China.

(Department of International Cooperation and Social Mobilization, LGOP)

 

International Exchanges

 

【Visits】In 2012, the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development actively conducted international exchanges and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction, further strengthened international exchanges in poverty reduction, expanded the communication channels and scope, organized exchange visits with a number of partner countries and sent a total of 33 visiting delegations abroad.

From June 12 to 22, 2012, Vice Minister of LGOP Zheng Wenkai headed a delegation to attend the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20 meeting), held bilateral talks and signed the “Action Plan for the Cooperation Between State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development People's Republic of China and Brazilian Ministry of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger to Overcome Extreme Poverty (2012-2014)” with Brazilian Ministry of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger. During the event, the delegation paid a visit to the Cantagalo Slum in the central area of Rio City to experience the life of slum dwellers. In the Museu de Favela, MDF, after that, the delegation learned more about the history of the formation and development of Kangtegaluo Slum as well as the organizational structure, mode of operation and development results of the Museu de Favela, MDF. The visit marked the beginning of China – Brazil exchange and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction and actively accelerated the exchange and cooperation between LGOP and the Latin American countries in the field of poverty reduction.

From July 21 to 29, 2012, a LGOP delegation led by Minister Fan Xiaojian paid an official visit to Mozambique and Tanzania. During his visit, Fan met with Mozambican Prime Minister Aires Ali and other high level officials including Minister of Development and Planning Mr. Aiuba Cuereneia and Minister of Women and Social Action Iolanda Cintura, and attended the Inauguration Ceremony of “China-Mozambique Kingho Poverty Reduction Cooperation Center” and the “Seminar on China-Mozambique Poverty Reduction Policy”. During his visit in Tanzania, Minister Fan attended and addressed the opening ceremony of the Third “China-Africa Poverty Reduction and Development Conference” and met with Tanzanian President Kikwete. Subsequently, the delegation visited the community development demonstration study program in Peiyapeiya Village, Ludaiwa Township, Kilosa County, Morogoro Province of Tanzania and attended the inauguration ceremony of “China-Tanzania Village-level Learning Center for Poverty Reduction”. The visits accelerated the exchange and cooperation between China and the two countries in the field of poverty reduction and further deepened the bilateral relations between China and African countries.

From August 15 to 26, 2012, Vice Minister of LGOP Wang Guoliang headed a delegation to visit Russia and Kazakhstan. During its visit in Russia, the delegation held talks with Assistant Minister Andrei of the Ministry of Social Security and Deputy Director Anton Nova of Department of Statistical and Comprehensive Analysis, visited the Chinese Embassy in Russia, listened to Ambassador Li Hui’s introduction to the basic situation of Russia and held talks with the relevant comrades of Chinese private enterprises and PetroChina in Russia. During its visit in Kazakhstan, the delegation visited PetroChina International (Kazakhstan) Co., Ltd., held talks with the principals of six upstream projects and two pipeline projects and carried out field research on the MMG project and the Wuyi Oil Depot and Gas Station of China National United Oil Corporation Co., Ltd. The visit further expanded the scope of LGOP’s international cooperation in the field of poverty reduction and actively explored new ways for enterprises to participate in international exchanges and cooperation.

【Reception activities】 The State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP) receives a large number of delegations from government departments of various countries, international organizations and non-governmental organizations every year. In 2012, LGOP leaders met with 12 foreign delegations.

On May 30, 2012, Mr. Zheng Wenkai, Vice Minister of LGOP met with a GIZ delegation headed by Senior Project Manager Thomas. Zheng began by reviewing the fruitful cooperation between LGOP and GIZ over the years. Then, he briefly introduced China’s development-oriented poverty alleviation in the new era. The two sides held talks on further strengthening their cooperation and exploring new ways for collaboration.

On June 25, 2012, Minister Fan Xiaojian met with a visiting delegation headed by Botswana’s Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Mokgweetsi Masisi. Fan introduced in detail the history, ideas, experience, achievements and future challenges and tasks of China's poverty alleviation and development. The two sides also exchanged ideas on poverty standard, the management of poverty-relief funds and the monitoring of poverty-stricken population, etc. Minister Masisi was very grateful for Mr. Fan’s introduction and said that China's poverty alleviation and development idea and experience is an important reference for Botswana and he was willing to further promote China- Botswana exchanges and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction. On June 26, Politburo Member of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier Hui Liangyu met with the delegation headed by Mokgweetsi Masisi in Purple Light Pavilion of Zhongnanhai, accompanied by Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council Ding Xuedong and LGOP Minister Fan Xiaojian. During the visit, the delegation also visited the Ministry of Commerce and other relevant state ministries and enterprises such as the headquarters of Huawei in Beijing and carried out field research in Hebei and Shanghai.

On July 16, 2012, Wang Guoliang, Vice Minister of LGOP met with a delegation headed by Mr. Mostafizur Rahman, State Minister of Land of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, and briefed them on China’s achievements and experience in poverty reduction and development over the past three decades of reform and opening up, the challenges as well as the future plan for the next decade. Mr. Rahman said China has made impressive progress and achievements in the past three decades. The Bangladeshi government is willing to learn from the experience of China in poverty reduction and development as the two countries have some similarities in terms of population growth, land management and climate change. After the meeting, the delegation carried out a field research on poverty reduction projects in Chengde city of Hebei Province.

       On July 19, 2012, LGOP Vice Minister Zheng Wenkai met with the World Bank’s Vice Sector Manager for the Sustainable Development Department (SD) for China and Mongolia Mark Lundell. The two sides conducted effective in-depth exchange on further strengthening the exchange and cooperation between poverty alleviation system and the World Bank.

On July 24, 2012, LGOP Vice Minister Zheng Wenkai met with a delegation headed by Martin Dahinden, Director-General of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and Director of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation. Zheng introduced to Director-General Martin the current policy and future task for China’s poverty alleviation and development and hoped the two countries will constantly strengthen their exchanges and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction. Director-General Martin highly praised the achievements made by China in poverty reduction and expressed his willing to strengthen cooperation.

On September 18, 2012, Minister Fan Xiaojian met with Ms. Yoka Brandt, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF. The two sides exchanged ideas on further deepen their cooperation in child poverty reduction and development. After the meeting, Director General Li Chuanguang of the Department for International Cooperation and Social Poverty Reduction of LGOP and Ms. Yoka Brandt signed a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the two sides and decided to carry out a series of studies, pilot work, trainings and exchange activities in reducing child poverty and promoting the development of children.

On October 17, 2012, Minister Fan Xiaojian met with a delegation headed by Indonesian National Development Planning Minister Ms. Armida Alisjahbana during Global Poverty Reduction and Development Forum. Minister Fan began by reviewing the basic situation of LGOP delegations’ visits in Indonesia in 2011, then introduced in detail the main agencies, policy and planning for poverty alleviation and development in China as well as the situation of international exchange and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction, and expressed his willingness to further promote China-Indonesia exchanges and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction through bilateral collaboration and China-ASEAN cooperation. Minister Armida was very grateful for Mr. Fan’s welcome and introduction, strongly endorsed Fan’s suggestions and said she sincerely hope that the two countries will continue to strengthen their exchanges and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction and further deepen their bilateral cooperation.

On October 17, 2012, Minister Fan Xiaojian met with UN Deputy Secretary-General Ambassador Wu Hongbo, who came to attend the Global Poverty Reduction and Development Forum in China, and issued a letter of appointment to invite Wu to serve as a senior advisor of International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC).

On October 19, 2012, Minister Fan Xiaojian met with a delegation headed by Ms. Ana Maldonado, Venezuela’s Deputy Minister of Communal Economy and People’s Power for Communes and Social Protection in Beijing. Fan began by reviewing the exchanges and cooperation between LGOP and Venezuela in the field of poverty reduction and, demanded by the delegation, introduced China’s achievements in rural poverty alleviation and development as well as the challenges. Finally, he answered the delegation’s questions on rural social security, etc. The delegation introduced the basic situation of poverty reduction and social security in Venezuela and expressed sincere thanks to China's warm hospitality and careful arrangements. Deputy Minister Ana said that China's experience in agricultural development and rural poverty reduction is a good reference for Venezuela and she hoped the two sides will further strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction.

On the morning of October 30, 2012, Minister Fan Xiaojian met with a Tonga delegation headed by Mr. Lord Fakafanua, Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly, and introduced China’s poverty alleviation mechanisms, reform and opening up as well as China’s achievements and experience in development-oriented poverty reduction. Ma Hui, Director of Seventh Liaison Office of International Liaison Department, Liu Shuwen, Deputy Director General of Department of International Cooperation and Social Mobilization, LGOP, and He Xiaojun, Deputy Director-General of IPRCC attended the meeting.

On the afternoon of October 30, 2012, Minister Fan Xiaojian met with a delegation headed by Mr. Amb. Ombeni Y. Sefue, Chief Secretary of the President's Office - State House of Tanzania. Minister Fan first briefly introduced the achievements of his visits in Tanzania in July this year, fully affirmed China-Tanzania exchanges and cooperation in poverty reduction and extended his thanks to Tanzania for its efforts on China-Tanzania cooperation in poverty reduction. Mr. Amb. Ombeni Y. Sefue was very grateful for the welcome of Minister Fan and the careful arrangements made by LGOP, and expressed his willingness to further study China’s poverty reduction idea and experience.

On November 28, 2012, Minister Fan Xiaojian met with a delegation headed by the World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Fan briefly introduced to Mr. Jim Yong Kim the overall situation of China’s development-oriented poverty alleviation and the basic situation of China’s participation in international exchange and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction, and hoped the World Bank will continue to participate in and support China’s poverty alleviation and development relying on its strengths. President Jim Yong Kim expressed his gratitude for Fan’s welcome and LGOP’s support for WB’s work in China, highly praised China’s achievements in poverty reduction over the years and expressed his willingness to make constant innovations to the cooperation mechanism to continuously promote the cooperation between the World Bank and China in the field of poverty reduction.

【Overseas training】  Overseas training is an important means for poverty relief cadre trainings and an important measure to implement the strategy of fostering personnel for poverty alleviation. According to the state’s requirements of intellectual poverty alleviation and the guiding line of "serving ourselves based on our needs and avoiding disadvantages for higher effectiveness", we highlighted key points, optimized the structure, conducted centralized management, developed relevant rules and systems and standardized the relevant regulations. Combined with the actual situation of poverty alleviation system, we strengthened international exchanges in the field of poverty reduction, conducted comparison of the development between countries and learned from other countries’ successful experience in poverty alleviation and development to explore effective ways and methods for poverty alleviation and development in China. From 2004 to 2012, LGOP successively organized 38 overseas trainings for 836 poverty relief cadres, covering a dozen of countries and regions, including not only developing countries but also developed countries. Through the training, the participants broadened their horizons and learned advanced concept and experience of overseas rural development and poverty alleviation, playing a positive role in improving the level of poverty reduction work of local areas. At the same time, China's achievements and experience in poverty alleviation and development were introduced to other countries to enhance the international influence of Chinese poverty alleviation.

In 2012, to achieve the overall objective of poverty alleviation and development in the new stage, focusing on hot issues on anti-poverty work, LGOP organized targeted overseas trainings characterized by "highlighting topics, standardizing organization, strengthening management and safe training". In 2012, LGOP organized five overseas trainings for 94 person-times, namely the training on "agricultural industrialization and farmers' security system" in the United States, the "regional development and integrated poverty reduction" in the United States, the "industrial poverty alleviation and the development of ecological agriculture in underdeveloped areas" in Australia, the "Poverty Alleviation Mode of Latin American countries" in Brazil and the "Poverty Alleviation Capacity Building" in South Korea.

(Department of International Cooperation and Social Mobilization, LGOP)

 

International Conferences

【The UN Conference on Sustainable Development - Side Meeting on the Elimination of Poverty】 On July 18, 2012, prior to the opening of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in the morning, LGOP in cooperation with the Brazilian Ministry of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger (MDS), UNDP and GIZ held a Rio+20 side meeting on the elimination of poverty in Rio, Brazil. The theme of the event was “International Cooperation on Poverty Reduction in the Context of the MDGs”, with three topics for discussion: “Overview of Poverty Reduction Strategies of China and Brazil”, “International Exchanges and Cooperation on Poverty Reduction”, and “Escape the Strange Cycle of Poverty, Disasters and Environmental Degradation – Major Findings of the China-Germany Technical Cooperation Projects for Post-Disaster Economic Restoration”. Du Ying, Chairman of the Chinese Preparatory Committee of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development and Vice Chair of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), together with Tiago, Brazilian Secretary of State for poverty reduction affairs, attended the meeting and delivered their opening address. Vice Minister Zheng Wenkai of LGOP chaired the event. Then, the Chinese and Brazilian representatives introduced the poverty reduction strategies of their countries, and signed the Action Plan for Cooperation between LGOP and MDS on Overcoming Extreme Poverty (2012-2014). Through the event, the two sides not only promoted mutual exchanges of information and sharing of experience, but also established an action plan for bilateral cooperation on poverty reduction in the next three years, which will significantly drive both countries to advance their exchanges and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction.

【China-ASEAN Forum on Social Development and Poverty Reduction】 From September 26 to 27, 2012, the sixth China-ASEAN Forum on Social Development and Poverty Reduction took place in Liuzhou City of Guangxi. Fan Xiaojian, LGOP Minister and Deputy Head of the State Council Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development, Wei Chaoan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Chen Zhangliang, Vice President of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nguyen Minh Tien, special representative of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication and Christophe Bahuet, UNDP China Country Director presented at the opening ceremony. Over 120 people attended the forum, including representatives of the governmental departments, academic circles, enterprises, social organizations and multilateral and bilateral development agencies of China and eight ASEAN countries. Themed on “China and ASEAN: Inclusive Development and Poverty Reduction”, this forum was discussed about the opportunities and challenges facing China and ASEAN countries in the process of achieving development and poverty reduction, the impact of trade facilitation, microfinance and social protection policy and practice on poverty reduction as well as the poverty reduction operations. After the meeting, the participants visited the ten thousand-mu double cropping grape base in Lubi Village, Chengtuan Town, Liujiang County.

【Poverty Reduction and Development Forum - 10.17 Forum】 In order to commemorate the 20th International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, approved by the State Council, jointly sponsored by LGOP and the UN System in China, co-organized by International Poverty Reduction Centre in China and UNDP China, the Poverty Reduction and Development Forum 2012 was held in the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on October 17. Hui Liangyu, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Vice Premier of the State Council and the Head of the State Council Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development attended the opening ceremony and delivered an important speech. After a message from the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed to the forum, both UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Wu Hongbo and Indonesian State Minister for National Development Planning, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, for their parts, proceeded to address the opening ceremony. Deputy Head of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development and LGOP Minister Fan Xiaojian chaired the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech at the forum. Amartya Sen, Professor at Harvard University and 1998 Nobel laureate in economics was invited to give a keynote speech at the forum. 28 Chinese and foreign minister-level representatives and more than 300 domestic and foreign people were present at the event and explored ways to achieve sustainable poverty reduction with the theme of "Inclusive Development and Poverty Reduction".

【China-Africa Poverty Reduction and Development Conference】 The Third China-Africa Poverty Reduction and Development Conference was held in Dar-es-Salaam, the capital of Tanzania on July 28, 2012. Jakaya Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Fan Xiaojian, LGOP Minister and Deputy Head of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, China’s ambassador to Tanzania Lv Youqing and Sierra Leonean Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development Momodu Kargbo attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Over 120 people attended the forum, including representatives of the governmental departments, academic circles, enterprises, social organizations and multilateral and bilateral development agencies of China and eight ASEAN countries. Themed on “agricultural modernization and poverty reduction”, the event shared the agricultural development experience of China and Africa and conducted discussions on how to promote poverty reduction by agricultural modernization and development cooperation.

【The International Symposium on Child Poverty and Development】 The International Symposium on Child Poverty and Development was held in Beijing from Nov. 20 to 22, 2012 and attracted more than 200 leading experts and delegates from 20 developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, international institutions and NGOs, and poverty alleviation officials from relevant ministries, provinces and regions of China. The symposium was sponsored by the State Council Leading Group Office on Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), made possible by a grant from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), and organized by Foreign Capital Project Management Center of LGOP. Minister Fan Xiaojian and Gillian Mellsop, UNICEF China Representative attended and addressed the forum. Prior to the event, Fan Xiaojian met with Mr. Daniel Toole, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific, Australian Ambassador Miss Sun Fangan, UNICEF's Representative to China Ms. Gillian Mellsop and former Vice Minister of Social Development of Brazil Mr. Rômulo Paes de Sousa, etc.

The symposium aims to strengthen experience exchange and sharing between China and other developing countries on child poverty alleviation and development, promote South-south Cooperation on child development and further improve China's policies and measures on child poverty reduction. During the two-and-a-half-day symposium, the participants had in-depth exchanges and discussions around five major themes: child poverty measurement, child sensitive social protection, outreach to the most vulnerable children, early child development and national macro-policies and south-south cooperation.

【China-Africa Seminar on Poverty Reduction and Development】From January 7 to 13, 2012, sponsored by IPRCC and UNDP, organized by China Center for Special Economic Zone Research of Shenzhen University and supported by Shenzhen Counterpart Support Office, the second “China-Africa Seminar on Poverty Reduction and Development” was held in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province with the theme of “Development and Poverty Reduction of Chinese Special Economic Zones”. Over 50 people attended the event, including decision-maders of Chinese and African governments, research agencies and private sectors, relevant researchers and practitioners as well as representatives of UNDP. Among them, ten were African representatives (including three above the level of deputy minister) respectively from Ethiopia, Togo, Nigeria, Gabon, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Vice Minister Zheng Wenkai, Hailemeskel Tefera, Minister of State, Urban Development and Construction of Ethiopia, President Zhang Bigong of Shenzhen University and UNDP China Country Director Christophe Bahuet attended and addressed the opening ceremony.

(Department of International Cooperation and Social Mobilization, LGOP)

 

Poverty Reduction and Development Experience Sharing

【Research】  1. A National Key Technology R&D Program organized by LGOP known as "Key Technologies of Anti-Poverty Spatial Information System and Their Applications" (2012BAH33B00) was approved. The project aims to use spatial information technology, comprehensive economic, social, ecological and environmental factors to explore the establishment of a poverty alleviation decision-making supporting technical system for the construction of a moderately prosperous society and develop the "national poverty alleviation and development spatial information system" to support dynamic identification, monitoring and evaluation of poverty, ecological safety assessment and disaster risk management. 

2. To support the UN Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio of Brazil, International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC) organized a series of "Green Growth and Poverty Reduction" projects, including the participation in the preparation of the "National Report on Sustainable Development of People's Republic of China" and the a joint research with ODI - "Green Growth and Poverty Reduction - Middle-income Countries’ Experiences and Lessons".

3. China-DAC Study Group continued to carry out research on the implications of China's experience for Africa. In February, the UK OECD Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC), the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and London School of Economics (LSE) jointly organized the seminar of "Economic Transformation and Poverty Reduction: Implications of China's Experience for Africa"; In June, the second meeting was convened in Beijing; In November, it carried out field research on China-Africa agricultural knowledge and experience sharing in Zimbabwe. China-DAC Study Group officially published the "Economic Transformation and Poverty Reduction: Implications of China's Experience on African Development - Policy Report" (in Chinese and English) and the "Economic Transformation and Poverty Reduction: Implications of China's Experience on African Development - Summary Report".

4. In response to the international community’s discussion on the "Post-2015 Millennium Development Agenda", the International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC) actively carried out relevant research activities. In June, Canadean Centre International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and Korea Development Institute (KDI) jointly organized an expert seminar of "Post Millennium Development Goals" in Beijing, talking about indicators selection for Post Millennium Development Goals; In December, IPRCC sent relevant persons to participate in the "Yunnan Seminar of the National Consulting Project of Post-2015 International Development Cooperation Agenda" organized by the United Nations Association in China and talked about the issue of poverty reduction. Meanwhile, IPRCC carried out special studies of "Inclusive Development and Poverty Reduction" and the "International Exchange on Poverty Reduction in the New Stage of the New Era" to support relevant discussions.

5. From July to September 2012, Foreign Capital Project Management Center of LGOP and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) jointly organized the "comparative study of international child poverty and development experience and model", which summarized the compared international patterns for eradicating child poverty, established the policy framework to address child poverty problem in rural China and made specific policy recommendations.

6. From August 28 to 29, 2012, LGOP and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly held in Beijing the seminar on the “Concept and Practice of Poverty Alleviation Diplomacy”. A total of 32 people including experts and scholars of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and PetroChina as well as other enterprises attended the event. Song Tao, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zheng Wenkai, Vice Minister of LGOP and other participants of the meeting carried out constructive studies on six issues, including the epoch significance, philosophy and practice, mechanisms and systems of poverty alleviation diplomacy, and achieved desired effects.

7. In September 2012, the Department of International Cooperation and Social Mobilization of LGOP entrusted College of Humanities and Development Studies, China Agricultural University to carry out studies of international exchange and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction in the new stage. Combined with the current situation of poverty reduction at home and abroad, the study mainly summarized China’s practices of exchange and cooperation in poverty reduction and made ​​targeted policy recommendations on further promoting China’s international exchange and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction from theory and policy perspective.

【Exchanges】  1. From March 21 to 24, 2012, IPRCC sent relevant staffs to attend the “13^th ASEAN-China Joint Cooperation Committee Meeting” held in Djakarta of Indonesia, which was sponsored by the ASEAN Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of PRC, introduced the progress made by LGOP in implementing the “Action Plan 2011” and developing Work Plan 2012, and expressed its willing for further cooperation with ASEAN countries.

2．From May 23 to 28, 2012, on the invitation of the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) in Tanzania, IPRCC sent a delegation headed by Director-General Huang Chengwei to take part in the international symposium of “The Release of Growth Potential: To Create Inclusive Growth Approach and Experience” in Tanzania. Director-General Huang Chengwei delivered a keynote speech of "Experience and History of China's Inclusive Growth" at the meeting.

3．From June 24 to 30, 2012, on the invitation of the Land Department of the Ministry of Interior (MOI) of Thailand, coordinated by the ASEAN Secretariat, IPRCC sent staff to attend the ASEAN + 3 regional training course schemed on “Thailand Land Management for Rural Development and Poverty Eradication” in Thailand sponsored by the Ministry of Interior (MOI) of Thailand. The participants carried out research on the land management policy and poverty reduction program to boost rural development and visited the public land distribution projects in Thailand to promote poverty reduction.

 4．From August 27 to September 1, 2012, on the invitation of the Asian Development Bank, IPRCC organized 11 delegates from the Research Institute of the State Council, China Banking Regulatory Commission, People’s Bank of China, China Banking Regulatory Commission and Development Research Center of the State Council to take part in the Training on Impact Evaluation for Public Policy Improvement in Thailand, which was sponsored by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and jointly organized by Center for International Development at Harvard University, Yale University and Innovations for Poverty Action and Poverty Action Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

5．Celebrity Forum - Lecture series on the forefront of development research

On October 19, 2012, the 7th IPRCC Celebrity Forum was held in Beijing. UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Wu Hongbo was invited to attend this forum and delivered a speech titled “The Current Development Trend, Post-2015 Development Agenda and the Role of United Nations”.

【Trainings】  1．From April 6 to 26, 2012, the “Seminar on the Development of Nepal Rural Areas”, sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of P.R.C and organized by the IPRCC, was convened in Beijing. Themed on “Rural Areas Development”, 15 representatives from the relevant Nepalese government authorities of rural development and poverty reduction participated in the event.

2．From April 13 to 27, 2012, the Seminar on MDGs and Sustainable Poverty Reduction for Developing Countries sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of P.R.C (MOFCOM) and organized by the IPRCC was convened in Beijing. Themed “MDGs and Sustainable Poverty Reduction”, the event was participated by 26 representatives from the relevant government department on poverty reduction and development of 17 countries, including Pakistan, Burma, Nepal, East Timor, Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, the Central African Republic, Rwanda and Papua New Guinea.

3．From May 3 to 17, 2012, the “Seminar on Development-oriented Poverty Alleviation and Practice for Officials from Francophone Africa” sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of the P.R.C and organized by IPRCC was held in Beijing. Themed on “Development-oriented Poverty Alleviation”, this event last for 15 days. A total of 23 participants working in the area of rural development and poverty reduction from 11 countries including Algeria, Benin, Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, Congo (Kinshasa), Guinea, Gabon, Mauritius, Senegal, Chad, Mauritania, and Cote d'ivoire attended the seminar.

4．From May 15 to 29, 2012, the “Seminar on Rural Development and Poverty Reduction for Developing Countries” sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and organized by the IPRCC took place in Beijing. Themed on “Rural Development and Poverty Reduction”, this event last for 15 days and was divided into lectures and field visit. A total of twenty-eight representatives from the relevant departments of 17 countries, including Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Burma, Nepal, East Timor, Palestine, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mauritius, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Ecuador, Papua New Guinea and Syria attended the event.

5．From June 5 to 19, 2012, the “Seminar on Integrated Rural and Urban Development and Poverty Reduction for Asian Countries” sponsored by Ministry of Commerce of the P.R.C and organized by the IPRCC took place in Beijing with the theme of “Integrated Rural and Urban Development and Poverty Reduction”. A total of 13 participants working in the area of rural development and poverty reduction from 5 countries including Palestine, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Nepal, and East Timor attended the event.

6．From June 7 to 21, 2012, the “Seminar on Rural Public Service and Comprehensive Poverty Reduction for Officials from Francophone Africa” sponsored by Ministry of Commerce of the P.R.C and organized by the IPRCC took place in Beijing with the theme of “Rural Public Service and Comprehensive Poverty Reduction”. A total of 19 participants working in the sector of poverty reduction and development from 10 countries including Benin, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Niger, Senegal, Chad, Central Africa, Mauritania, Djibouti and Guinea attended the event.

7．From July 5 to 11, 2012, the 4th China-IFAD South-South Cooperation Seminar sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and IFAD and organized by IPRCC was held in Beijing. 18 delegates from IFAD, China and other member countries of IFAD attended the event. Themed on “strengthening public agricultural services to improve industry chain of small farmers”, the event was divided into seminar and field visit, and the seminar was mainly about three topics, namely “current situation and development prospect of Three Rural Issues of China”, “small-scale agricultural market system construction and the improvement of industry chain” and the “transformation of small-scale agricultural production mode”. The participants carried out field research in Shanxi Province on the implementation of rural development and poverty reduction projects in grassroots areas of China.

8．From August 6 to 17, 2012, the Training of Monitoring and Evaluation on China’s Poverty Reduction Strategy sponsored by IPRCC and UNDP took place in Beijing. Themed “the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of pro-poor strategies”, this event was participated by 13 representatives from relevant governmental departments and institutions of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

9．From August 8 to 18, 2012, the “Workshop on Development of Rural Water Conservancy and Poverty Reduction in Tanzania” jointly organized by IPRCC and Hubei Provincial Poverty Alleviation Office was convened in Beijing and Hubei. Themed “Development of Rural Water Conservancy and Poverty Reduction”, the event was participated by 16 representatives from poverty alleviation and development departments of Tanzania.

10．From September 20 to 28, 2012, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, organized by IPRCC and co-organized by Gansu Provincial Poverty Alleviation and Development Office, the “Seminar on Theory and Practice of International Development (Poverty Reduction) for Asian Countries” was held in Beijing with the theme of“Public Service, Rural Development and Poverty Reduction”. 26 officials and scholars from 14 member states of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam, took part in the seminar upon invitation.

11．From October 31 to November 14, 2012, sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China and organized by IPRCC, the “Seminar on Formulation and Implementation of Strategic Planning on Rural Development and Poverty Reduction for Developing Countries” was held in Beijing. Themed “the Formulation and Implementation of Strategic Planning on Rural Development and Poverty Reduction”, the event last for 15 days and was divided into two parts, namely the lectures and field research. 19 representatives from the government departments of rural development and poverty reduction of 11 developing countries including Palestine, East Timor, Cuba, Kyrgyzstan, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Malaysia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Iraq attended the seminar.

12．From November 5 to 12, 2012, sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the Ministry of Finance (MOF), the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP), and the World Bank (WB), organized by IPRCC and co-organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE), the China-Africa Experience-Sharing Program on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Financing and Inclusive Growth was opened in Beijing. About 80 people were invited to attend the conference, including senior government officials from Burundi, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Nigeria and Malaysia, senior representatives of international organizations such as WB, International Finance Corporation, UNDP, and others from domestic ministries and commissions, financial and scientific institutions. Zheng Xiaosong, Assistant Minister of MOF, Zheng Wenkai, Vice Minister of LGOP, Luo Hong, Deputy Secretary of Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO), Wu Zhuojin, Chief Economist for WB’s China, Mongolia and Korea Department and Steven Sabey, UNDP China Deputy Country Director addressed the opening ceremony. Themed on “Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Financing and Inclusive Growth”, this program mainly conducted discussions on the following topics: Developing MSME financing and promoting inclusive growth; creating a sound policy environment conducive to MSME financing; strengthening financial infrastructure for MSMEs; encouraging MSME innovation and financing cooperation. During this program, the participants carried out field research on the current status of MSME financing and development in Anhui Province.

13．From November 15 to 29, 2012, sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China and organized by IPRCC, the “Seminar on Realization of the UN MDGs for Officials from Francophone Africa” was held in Beijing. Themed “the Realization of the UN MDGs”, the event last for 15 days. A total of 27 representatives from poverty reduction and development authorities of 11 countries including Congo (Kinshasa), Djibouti, Guinea, Comoros, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire and Central Africa attended the event.

(Department of International Cooperation and Social Mobilization, LGOP)

 

Poverty Alleviation of International Organizations in China

【Demonstration pilot project of industrial poverty alleviation in contiguous poor areas】 After the promulgation and implementation of the new outline, in accordance with the state’s overall requirements of taking contiguous poor areas as the main battlefields of the anti-poverty work and the objectives of improving the income of the poor and narrowing the development gap, in 2012, based on the previous successful cooperation, the  Foreign Capital Project Management Center of LGOP and the World Bank launched a new loan project for poverty reduction – the “demonstration pilot project of industrial poverty alleviation in contiguous poor areas funded by the World Bank Loans” (the sixth poverty alleviation project of the World Bank). Approved by the State Council in July 2012, the project has been listed in the alternative projects funded by WB for the Chinese government to implement from 2013 to 2015 and relevant preparatory work is proceeding smoothly now.

The overall objective of the sixth poverty alleviation project of the World Bank is: To develop efficient, ecological industries with high value-added, promote the agricultural structure adjustment of contiguous poor areas, achieve ecological environment protection and the sustained income growth of the poor, launch pilot and demonstration projects of industrial poverty alleviation in contiguous poor areas and promote the projects nationwide. The project design is different from that of the previous five projects that focused on infrastructure construction, mainly involving the development of competitive industries in contiguous poor areas, infrastructure construction for industrialization poverty alleviation, farmers’ organization building, industrialization poverty alleviation market and technical system, financial support, etc. The project area covered 27 counties of Wumeng Mountain Area in Sichuan and Guizhou and the Liupan Mountain Area in Gansu Province. A total of 1.95 billion yuan was invested for the project, of which $150 million was WB loans ($60 million for Gansu Province and $50 million for Sichuan and Guizhou) and $5 million was grants from the Global Environment Facility, and the domestic matching funds were issued based on the ratio 1:1.

(Department of International Cooperation and Social Mobilization, LGOP)