Council leading group office of poverty allevition and development(lgop)

Foreword

　　From July 20 to 30, 2012, a Chinese delegation led by Fan Xiaojian, LGOP Director and Deputy Head of the State Council Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development, paid a friendly visit to the Republic of Mozambique and Tanzania. The delegation was composed of representatives from LGOP, China’s State Council Research Office, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and IPRCC.
　　During his visit to Mozambique, 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. He also attended the Inauguration Ceremony of “China-Mozambique Kingho Poverty Reduction Cooperation Center” and the “Seminar on China-Mozambique Poverty Reduction Policy”. The delegation also visited “China-Mozambique Agricultural Science and Technology Demonstration Center” built by China and Hubei
Friendship Farm in Gaza province of Mozambique.
　　During his visit to Tanzania, Fan met with Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete, attended the inauguration ceremony of “China-Tanzania Villagelevel Learning Center for Poverty Reduction” as well as the 3rd “China-Africa Poverty Reduction and Development Conference”.

Visit to Mozambique

　　The China Poverty-alleviation Delegation headed by Mr. Fan Xiaojian, Minister of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, paid a friendly visit to Mozambique from July 20 to 25, 2012. Delegates from the Research Office of State Council, China’s State Council Research Office, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and IPRCC joined the visit.





　　During the visit, the Delegation 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. It attended the Inauguration Ceremony of“China-Mozambique Kingho Poverty Reduction Cooperation Center” and the “Seminar on China-Mozambique Poverty Reduction Policy”. The delegation also visited “China-Mozambique Agricultural Science and Technology Demonstration Center” built by China and Hubei Friendship Farm in Gaza province of Mozambique

Bilateral Talks



　　Prime Minister Ali extended a warm welcome to Director Fan and his delegation members. The former believed that frequent high-level exchange visits between China and Mozambique for a long time fully have reflected the importance attached by both governments to their friendly relations. Fan expressed his heartfelt thanks to Prime Minister Ali for his high attention to China-Mozambique exchanges and cooperation on poverty reduction, particularly his care and support for China-Mozambique Kingho Poverty Reduction Cooperation Center. Fan added that the great success of China’s poverty reduction should be attributed to its adherence to the path of poverty reduction and development based on and suitable for its national conditions.



　　Minister Cintura and Minister Cuereneia welcomed Director Fan and his delegation. Fan affirmed the role played by the Ministry of Women and Social Action and the Ministry of Planning and Development in promoting domestic poverty reduction and development, and looked forward to their vigorously support to the future work of the said center.

Field Visit



　　The Delegation went on a field trip to “China-Mozambique Agricultural Technological Demonstration Center” and “Hubei-Gaza Friendship Farm”.The Inauguration Ceremony of China-Mozambique Kingho Poverty Reduction Cooperation Center & the Seminar on China-Mozambique Poverty Reduction Policy



　　The Inauguration Ceremony of China-Mozambique Kingho Poverty Reduction Cooperation Center marked the official start of the exchanges and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction between the two countries. In the future, the Center will help the Mozambican government implement poverty reduction strategies in terms of policy consulting, capacity building, cooperative study and community demonstration.



　　“The Seminar on China-Mozambique Poverty Reduction Policy”, which was chaired by IPRCC Deputy Director General Huang Chengwei, marked the first activity after the establishment of the “China-Mozambique Kingho Poverty Reduction Cooperation Center”. Experts from China and Mozambique introduced their respective national policies on poverty reduction and rural development, and relevant issues were discussed by representatives.

Visit to Tanzania

　　From July 25 to 29, 2012, the LGOP delegation headed by Minister Fan Xiaojian paid a working visit to Tanzania. During his visit, Mr. Fan met with President Jakaya Kikwete, visited the China-Tanzanian poverty reduction cooperation project - Peapea Village Learning Center for Poverty Reduction, and took part in the 3rd China-Africa Poverty Reduction and Development Forum.

Background

　　Tanzania is the first partner country of IPRCC in promoting China-Africa exchanges and cooperation on poverty reduction. Ever since 2008, IPRCC has organized several batches of experts to make field trips to Tanzania, carried out several research projects on poverty issues of Tanzania and comparison of China-Tanzania agricultural development with relevant international organizations, and established a favorable partnership with the Tanzanian government. From the year 2011, IPRCC has worked with the Planning Committee of Tanzanian President’s Office and launched the villagelevel poverty reduction demonstration study program in rural Tanzania, which has introduced to the country China’s village-based development mode in developmentoriented poverty reduction and its experience in helping farmers shake off poverty through agricultural development.







Visit to Peapea Village Learning Center for Poverty Reduction

　　On July 26, Minister Fan Xiaojian headed the delegation to visit Peapea Village, Ludaiwa Township, Kilosa County, Morogoro Province of Tanzania, and received a warm welcome from the villagers. The village is 360 kilometers away from its capital, Dar es Salaam. With the company of Mr. Lv Youqing, China’s ambassador to Tanzania, Philip Mpango, General Secretary of the Planning Committee of Tanzanian President’s Office and Joel Bendera, Commissioner of Morogoro Province, Mr. Fan visited the community-based development demonstration
program conducted by IPRCC in the village, and attended the inauguration ceremony of “China-Tanzania Village-level Learning Center for Poverty Reduction” (hereinafter referred to as the “Poverty Reduction Learning Center”).

Concepts and Goals of the Poverty Reduction Learning Center

　　As one of the important activities conducted by IPRCC for promoting China-Tanzania poverty reduction exchange and cooperation, Peapea Village Learning Center for Poverty Reduction is the first village-level demonstration program established in Africa, with a range of objectives including strengthening village-level organizations and the study and management abilities of villagers in order to solve the prominent issues in agricultural production, as well as increasing agricultural productivity and farmers’ income to reduce poverty by conducting small-scale and
various demonstration activities. The demonstration program includes capacity building, technical training, agricultural demonstration, smallscale processing and mini irrigation as well as village infrastructure construction. Since its inception in April 2011, the program has set up a village-level learning center, built public drinking water and healthcare facilities, reconstructed village roads, demonstrated corn planting, and arranged multiple trainings for local villagers. In 2012, the corn output of households joining in corn planting demonstration doubles that of average households.



Inauguration Ceremony of the China-Tanzania Village-level Learning Center for Poverty Reduction at Peapea



　　The inauguration ceremony was held outside the learning center established by IPRCC, with the participation of about 300 people, including Peapea villagers, local government officials and senators. Director Fan Xiaojian and Joel Bendera jointly cut the ribbon. Joel Bendera and Philip Mpango addressed the ceremony and extended their gratitude to IPRCC for supporting the local community. They also hoped to well arrange the follow-up activities to make it a model for rural development and a testament to China’s friendship with Tanzania. Ambassador Lv extended his congratulations on the establishment of the center and commended the poverty reduction model based on capacity building. In his speech, Mr. Fan said, “The inauguration of the China-Tanzania Village-level Learning Center for Poverty Reduction is a milestone for China-Tanzania exchanges and cooperation in the field of poverty reduction. We sincerely hope that with the joint efforts of all parties, the co-pilot program will achieve a complete success, and the center will fully play its role as a bridge in promoting mutual development and bilateral friendship between China and Tanzania.”
　　After the inauguration ceremony, Director Fan Xiaojian and Mr. Joel Bendra unveiled the plaque for the Poverty Reduction Learning Center.





　　 Village representatives presented gifts to Director Fan Xiaojian at the inauguration ceremony.



　　The delegation visited the newly completed learning center and ancillary public drinking water facilities, and learned how the demonstration households implemented the program. Professor Li Xiaoyun, Chief Advisor of China-Africa poverty reduction cooperation program and Dean of the College of Humanities and Development, China Agricultural University introduced the program design and implementation to the delegation and visitors.

Visit to Its Partner - China-Africa Agricultural Investment Co., Ltd.

　　The delegation also investigated the sisal farm, hospital, staff club and workshop owned by China-Africa Agricultural Investment Co., Ltd in Peapea Village. The company is not only IPRCC’s strategic partner to carry out China-Tanzania poverty reduction cooperation, but also a key prop for the village to implement poverty reduction learning program. Director Fan Xiaojian made an inscription for the sisal farm, “You have been working so hard for the friendship between China and Tanzania!”



 

　　The sisal farm and workshop of China-Africa Agricultural Investment Co., Ltd.

China-Africa Poverty Reduction and Development Forum



　　On July 28, 2012, The China-Africa Poverty Reduction and Development Forum was opened in Dar-es-Salaam, the capital of Tanzania. Jakaya Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, and Fan Xiaojian, Deputy Head of the State Council’s Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development and Director of the Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Government officials and scholars from China and Africa, together with more than 120 representatives from UNDP, the World Bank, DFID, etc. were present at the meeting. More than 20 ministerial-level delegates from Tanzania, Ghana, Kenya, Eritrea, Mauritius, Uganda, Sierra Leone and Mauritania, rural economy and agriculture commissioners of the African Union, as well as senior representatives with Southeast African organizations also attended the conference.



Opening Ceremony



　　In his opening speech, Jakaya Kikwete said that China-Africa Poverty Reduction and Development Forum, which was held at the end of the 5th Ministerial Meeting of China-Africa Cooperation Forum, could never be too timely, as it is of great significance to implement the decisions and initiatives taken and established by the meeting.
　　He said that 70% of sub-Saharan Africans live in rural areas and follow the traditional agricultural practices. The low productivity and yield make rural poverty and food insecurity pre-eminent issues. In that case, African countries have expressed a strong political will and are better prepared to realize agricultural modernization without any delay.
　　He noted that to achieve this goal, Tanzania needs to cooperate with China, and draw upon the extensive experience China has accumulated in poverty reduction and development. Meanwhile, China is ready and willing to facilitate Africa’s agricultural transformation, improve its infrastructure, and conduct agricultural R&D and training of the related personnel.
　　He also pointed out that with a population of 1.3 billion, China is an important market for African’s agricultural products. China’s private sector can establish manufacturing enterprises in cooperation with Tanzania. And Tanzania hopes to access the Chinese market via this event.



　　Fan pointed out that, China and African countries remain at the same development stage, and share common goals in promoting development and eliminating poverty. For a long time, China and African countries have been actively exploring development approaches in seeking national prosperity and pursuing happiness, with remarkable achievements accomplished in stimulating growth, accelerating poverty reduction and pushing forward social progress. He said that agricultural and rural development constitutes an important basis for growth and poverty reduction. With a view to improving the capacity and level of agricultural policy-making, agricultural infrastructure construction and agricultural technology research and extension, and realizing poverty reduction through agricultural modernization, this event will be of particular significance in advancing agricultural growth and rural development of both Africa and China.



　　Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Mr. Lv Youqing expressly pointed out in his opening address that during the just-concluded 5th Ministerial Meeting of China-Africa Cooperation Forum, President Hu Jintao had announced, on behalf of the Chinese government, five key areas to endorse peace and development of Africa and promote the new China-Africa strategic partnership. The China-Africa Poverty Reduction and Development Forum held in Tanzania this year marks a concrete action take by both sides to implement the spirit of the said ministerial meeting, symbolizing that China- Africa and China-Tanzania communication and cooperation on poverty reduction and development has entered a new phase.

Topics

Overview of Agricultural Modernization and Poverty Reduction

Agricultural Policies and Policy Development Process

The Role of Agricultural Infrastructure Construction and Agricultural Technology Research and Extension in Promoting Agricultural Modernization

The Role of Agricultural Industrial Chain and Farmers’Organization in Promoting Agricultural Modernization

The Way Forward for Agriculture Development in Africa and How it Could Benefit From South-South Cooperation

 



Keynote Report: Review of Agricultural Modernization and Anti-poverty Policies in China (1978-2012)

Side Events



　　Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete met with the Chinese poverty reduction delegation

Voice of Participants

　　AU Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture H.E Tumusiime Rhoda Peace says the theme of the forum, which echoes the CAADP now being implemented, reflects the spirit of South-South Cooperation.

　　Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic development of Sierra Leone Mr. Momodu Kargbo points out that the development of economy cannot go without the development of agriculture, and poverty reduction also needs to rely on agricultural development and rural productivity improvement. He emphasizes the significance of agriculture-led poverty reduction cooperation between China and Africa within the South-South cooperation framework. Rather than taking resources away, cooperation on poverty reduction leaves practical technologies and precious experiences on the soil of Africa.

　　Deputy Director General of Promotion of Private Sector, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Development of Mauritania Mr. Mohamed Yahya Taleb Ahmed is a first-time participant of the forum, which in his eyes is a good platform for sharing poverty reduction experience.

Media Coverage



Previous Events



　　The “China-Africa Poverty Reduction and Development Conference”was held from November 1 to 2, 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The conference brought together 250-odd participants, including Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Mr. Zheng Wenkai, Deputy Director of LGOP and Ms. Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator.



　　From January 7 to 13, 2012, the 2nd “China-Africa Seminar on Poverty Reduction and Development” was held in Shenzhen, with the participation of more than 50 representatives, including Mr. Zheng Wenkai, Deputy Director of LGOP, Hailemeskel Tefera, Urban Development and Construction State Minister of Ethiopia.