Annual Report2006

　　The International Poverty Reduction Center in China，IPRCC for short ,is an international agency jointly initiated and established by the Chinese government and United Nations Development Program(UNDP)and other international organizations. Securing the independent legal status, it is devoted to trainings, exchange and research activities on international poverty reduction experience, managed by its Board of Trustees composed of associated national and international organizations. The poverty-reduction-centered missions of the center range from exchanging experience, promoting progress, organizing applied research, optimizing policies and strengthening international communication to enhancing international collaboration.



　　At his address titles Common Prosperity through Prevalent Development to the UN 60 Anniversary Summit on Development Funding on September 14,2005,Hu Jintao. Chinese president indicated that the International Poverty Reduction Center in China(IPRCC)was established May of this year in Beijing with a mandate to contribute to worldwide poverty reduction.



　　In the Ninth ASEAN plus Three Summit on December 12,2005,Wen Jiabao, Chinese Premier gave a speech of Consolidate Collaboration to Create a Bright Future, which pointer out that United Nations Development Program(UNDP)established a regional center for poverty reduction in China and China offered to host the Second ASEAN plus Three High-Level Workshop on Poverty Reduction to increase collaboration in this area.



　　Hui Liangyu, Chinese Vice Premier, elaborated in his remarks named Joint Hands in Poverty Reduction for a More Harmonious East Asia to the Second ASEAN plus Three high-level Workshop on Poverty Reduction on September 25,2006, that the Chinese Government supports IPRCC to be an important platform for exchange and collaboration of and collaboration with developing countries and helping enhance he capability of government staff engaged in poverty reduction by delivery of training.



　　As poverty is a daunting challenge to world peace and development, poverty reduction is a common responsibility for international community. IPRCC took the initiative to review poverty alleviation experience in both China and the rest of the world, strengthened collaboration and contact with relevant government. International organizations and NGOs and organized activities of studies, trainings and exchanges form the developing countries to achieve the expectations from the Chinese Government and to meet the demands arising from worldwide fight against poverty. The center has been effective and productive over the past year since its inception, contributing to the improvement of poverty reduction capabilities of relevant developing countries.

　　The year 2007 is ringing its toward us. I sincerely wish that the center could continue to make itself an important platform for exchange and collaboration in the field of poverty reduction in the international community and make more contributions to world efforts of poverty reduction.

　　Word  from  Vice  Chairman  of BOT



　　IPRCC  has done a  lot  of  work  just  over a year ago since its establishment. It has successfully made certain satisfactory achievements in the field of policy research ,information collection, investigation and training as well as organizational capacity building . As one party of BOT , the Ministry of Commerce has always been supportive of the establishment of IPRCC by will continue to provide of as much as it can on helping IPRCC by arranging international assistance projects and training programs of foreign aid.We sincerely hope that the center can develop into an international  organization with Chinese characteristics and make its due contribution to the wold poverty reduction campaign.



　　In the global effort to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), there is great need for lessons learned from successful experience n the battle against poverty . Having dramatically reduced extreme poverty in two decades, China is one important source of such lessons. By sharing the experience of its achievements as well as its mistakes, China can make valuable contribute to the poverty reduction and development of other developing countries and also benefit from the exchange process and learning from others.

　　The International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC) was established in order to distill and disseminate the experience in poverty reduction and development . Since its inception in mid2005, the Center has made important progress on this mandate by building up the institution and its networks and by commissioning research on China’s poverty reduction.

　　By holding international training ,conferences and various exhance activities over the past year, it has demonstrated for the common cause of global poverty reduction.

2007  will be another key period for IPRCC to intensify its development . UNDP will continue to provide together with other partner. As IPRCC continue to build its capacity and grow into an international center of excellence , we are committed to help promote series of new initiatives for more promising results through out the year.



　　IPRCC is an international institution that was formally established in May 2005 to contribute to worldwide poverty reduction.

　　As desired by the Chinese Government and requested by the BOT, the  center set its mission as exchanging poverty reduction experience, including progress of poverty reduction ,organization applied research ,    policies ,enhancing international exchange and  collaboration ，its functions as improving world capability in designing and implementing poverty reduction policies ,reviewing ,studying and disseminating experience in each country and facilitating international exchange and collaboration of poverty reduction and facilitating .internationalizing experience in other countries and localizing international experiences to accommodate Chinese demands . It has been active in delivery of training and exchanges and applied research with encouraging results.

　　The Center staff and I witnessed the birth of the center ,how the organization started from scratch , how it grew from nothing to something  .from weak to strong , from fidgeting to experience , from unknown to well-known,Everything turned out to be encourage to us ,Here I want to thank all the BOT institutional members and trustees for their great support. My gratitude also goes to the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP)and its affiliated agencies. It is also a time to say thank you to all our partners and friends.

　　It’s said in China that new insights can be gained through reviewing old ones, Entering the year of 2007. We have clear idea of the heavy tailis on our shoulders. But we will continue to do a good job in enhancing the quality of training ,expanding the scopes for exchange, organizing applied research ,developing partnerships ,promoting institutional construction and exploring a new and better future.

　　The training activities organized by the center included the International Workshop on Poverty Reduction Policy and Practice in Asian Countries (June  8-22. 2006), the Workshop on Poverty Policy and Practice for African Countries (July 5-19, 2006)and the Poverty Reduction Seminar for Development Countries at Ministerial Level (October 17-26, 2006) and the International Workshop on Disseminating Poverty Reduction Experiences in China (December 1-15, 2005). All these workshop targeted development officials all from 51 countries in Asia . America and Oceania with good impact and many lessons learned on how to organize training targeting other developing countries.



　　Baic Country list of training workshop

　　Ascian: Bangladesh ,Georgia,Indonesia ,Iran ,Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal ,Pakistan, Philippines, Sn Lanka, Syria ,Tajikistan ,East Timor , Turkey , Vietnam, Yemen

　　Africa: Algeria, Angola , Benin , central Africa, Congo ,Cote d’ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea Equatorial, Lesotho ,Liberia, Mauritania ,Mauritius ,Mozambique ,Namibia , Seychelles, Sierra Leon ,South Africa, Sudan , Tanzania , Togo ,Uganda, Zambia ,Zimbabwe

　　North America: Cuba, Mexico , St,Lucia

　　South America: Argentina ,Columbia, Ecuador

　　Oceania:  Fiji , Tonga

　　The training workshops are unique in the following aspects:

　　One overriding goal Help development countries on enhance the capability in reducing poverty.

　　Two Venues Courses in Beijing ,field trips to project sites in Chinese local provinces ,which were selected to accommodate the demands of government officials

　　Three sections Opening ceremony and courses in Beijing , field trips to project sites, and review and closing ceremony back to Beijing, which was designed to diversity the components of whole workshop.

　　Four basic topics It was well-received by the participants that the workshop each provided about six to ten lectures on such four topics as economic and social development in China ,agrarian issues in China ,history of poverty reduction China ,all enriched by illustrative case studies.

　　Five forms The workshop combined theory highlights, experience introduction. Case study , field trips and participatory discussion, which  interested and mobilized the participants.

　　Six sources of lecture The lecturers ,coming from a variety of social backgrounds . Specially, included chiefs of relevant specialized agencies (e.g. Chen Xiwen, Director,Office of Rural Work Leading Group ,CPC Center Committee),government officials academic Lia Jian. Director ，LGOP.prestigious scholars of domestic academic institutions in the field of social development (e.g.Li Nianyun Dean, the College of Huminities and Development at China Agricultural University),representatives of international organizations in China (e.g.David Dollar, World Bank Country Chiector for China and Mongolia, and Adrian Davis, Head of DFID in China. Managers of poverty reduction projets and practitioners at anunry levels and below.



　　Developed a preliminary understanding of the basic of China and the achievements of reform and opening up .Mr. Dciabi ,a program planning specialist from Iran said this was the first time in China and she was deeply impressed by its accomplishment , She insisted that a prosperous and grand China on out felt and believe without seeing.

　　Understood the chief contributors to Chinese successes in poverty reduction, In his summary of the determinants of  in China. Mr . Mutemwa from Zambia said that Chinese access with poverty reduction should be attributed to following factors ,first, powerful and stable social climate ; second, locally-based policies .projects and programs; third , strong government ;fourth, qualified people engaged in the campaign upstair poverty ; fifth, integrated educational system ;sixth, policy of birth control and seventh, logical relation between supply and assumption.

　　Learnt about the basic experience that could be transferred to other countries. Ms Cynthia said that

　　She was deeply impressed by the village-based development projet in Longsheng County of Guangxi Autonomous Region and was enlightened as Ghana installed similar project with unsatisfactory results. She also pointed out that it is necessary for Ghana to learn best practies from China’s poverty reduction and hoped that Chinese government could send experts to Ghana to guide their projects.

　　Enhanced their understanding of and friendship with China .As it came to the end of each workshop , it had the feeling that China is a friendly , responsible and reliable nation . As they said , they would work for more government officials from their countries coming to China for knowledge-learning, tour and chances of collaboration.

　　International Exchange on Poverty Reduction



　　As directed by LGOP and Ministry of Foreign Affairs,IPRCC successfully organized the Second ASEAN Plus Three High-level Workshop on Poverty Reduction from September 25 to 29 ,2006.

　　The workshop was given great importance by the parties concerned. That was ASEAN member states and China ,Japan and Korea had thin delegaeces (delegations of nine counties among them were including by ministerial official )to the evert . The Deputy Secretary fianices’s of ASEAN Secretariat attended the Workshop . The Chinese delegation was a multi-departmental group involving the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP), Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM),Ministry of Foreign Affairs(MFA),National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC),Ministry of Finance(MOF),Ministry of  Agriculture Center of the State Council and China Academy of Social Seiences . The workshop had the presence of observers from some international organizations and bilateral agencies including ADB, UNDP World Bank ,DFID,World Food Programme (WFP),Japan bank of International Cooperation, International Fund for agriculture Development and GTZ, etc. The event was partially financed the ADB.

　　The workshop had tracks , the meetings and field trips . The meetings were composed of opening ceremony ,keynote speeches,discussion and summary.

　　The opening ceremony was presided overby Liu Jian, Director of DFID and addressed by Li Jinzhang, Vice Minister of MFA, Li Wang ,Vice Minister of MOF, Soeung Rathchavy ,Deputy Secretary General ASEAN Secretariat and H.Satish Rao, Director General of AOB’s East Asia Department .Hui Liangyu ,Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Center Committee, China Vice Premier and the Chief of State Council Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development delivered a remark titled Join Hands in Poverty Reduction for a More Harmonious East Asia which gave an inclusive idea of the efforts made by the Chinese Government to promote regional collaboration and the views of Chinese side to strengthen regional collaboration and exchange.

　　The two session of keynote speech were moderated by Gao Hongbin and Wang Guoliang. Deputy Directors of LGOP.ASEAN member state (except Brunei),China ,Japan ,Korea and ASEAN Secretariat delivered speeches for discussion . The workshop discussed the issue of the Beijing Resolution on ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation in Poverty Alleviation and LGOP released the Beijing Proposal for the Second ASEAN Plus Three High-Level Workshop on Poverty Reduction Gao Hongbin , Deputy Director of LGOP summarized the meetings.

　　After the meetings were concluded . Zhang Lei , Managing Director of IPRCC accompanied the workshop participants in field trips to Guangxi Autonomous Region and Yunnan Province to syudy local projects for poverty reduction.

　　The two sessions of keynote speech were moderated by Gao Hongbin and Wang Guoliang, Deputy Directors of LGOP.ASEAN member states (except Brunei), China, Japan, Korea and ASEAN Secretariat delivered speeches for discussions. The workshop discussed the issue of the Beijing Resolution on ASEAN plus Three cooperation in Poverty Alleviation and LGOP released the Beijing Proposal for the Second ASEAN plus Three High-level Workshop on Poverty Reduction. Gao Hongbin, Deputy Director of LGOP summarized the meeting.

　　After the meeting were concluded, Zhang Lei, Managing Director of IPRCC accompanied the workshop participants in filed trips to Guangxi Autonomous Region and Yunnan Province to study local projects for poverty reduction.

1  Lu Bing (the first from right), Chairman of People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Ethnic Autonomous Region, meeting with the delegation (the first from left is Saifullah Yusuf, Minister, Ministry of Development for Underdeveloped Regions, Indonesia)

2  Delegation visit to the poverty reduction project site of industrialization in Simao Municipality, Yunnan Province

3  Delegation visit to site of village-based development project in Fengshan County, Guangxi Autonomous Region

4  Delegation visit to the poverty reduction project site of industrialization-silk processing in Donglan county, Guangxi Autonomous Region

5  Delegation visit to the poverty reduction project site of industrialization-tea processing in Simao Municipality, Yunnan Province

6  Delegation visit to site of bio-gas project in Donglan County, Guangxi Autonomous Region

7  Delegation visit to the poverty reduction project site of industrialization-silk processing in Donglan County, Guangxi Autonomous Region

　　It was a common idea shared by the participants that the workshop, another high-level event following the first in Vientiane, capital of Lao PDR, is bound to refresh regional efforts in poverty reduction, especially collaboration across the countries. It was established in the participants that China bring national poverty down to its expected level as its economy grows. The meeting and filed trips offered valuable chance to hear about, and more importantly, to see the successful stories in China that are worth learning to other countries.

　　Many thanks were given to the Chinese side for organizing the workshop in a highly commendable way.

　　The seminar also caught the spotlight from the media including china Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily, China Central Television, China Daily, Phoenix Statellite TV and Voice of Vietnam with detailed coverage released. The workshop proceedings and discussion results were punished under the title of Join Hands in Poverty Reduction for a More Harmonious East Asia.

　　During May 23-24, 2006, the International Conference named “the Poverty Reduction Strategy in the New Millennium:Emerging Issue,Experience and Lessons” was jointly convened in Beijing by IPRCC and the International Food Policy Research Institute(IFPRT).

　　The conference was attended by 100 representatives, namely, policymakers,researchers and practitioners from 12 governments, and deputies from eleven international organizations, bilateral institutions and NGOs throughout Asia, Africa, America and Europe. Liu Jian. Director of LGOP and Joachim von Braun. Director General of IFPRI presented at the opening ceremony .Zhang Lei, Managing Director of IPRCC hosted the opening ceremony and gave a speech title the Government Roles in Poverty Reduction based on Practices in Rural China.

　　The conference was financed or supported by UNDP, DFID, National Natural Science Foundation of China, International Center for Agricultural and Rural Development at Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges, and Australian Center for International Agricultural Research.

　　After the conference, the hosts rolled out a collection of conference proceeding named Poverty Reduction Strategy in the New Millennium: Emerging Issues, Experiences and Lessons.

　　A range of exchange activities were organized

　　IPRCC delegation to Britain and Germany in the talk with GTZ

　　IPRCC delegation to Britain and Germany in the talk with DFID

　　IPRCC delegation to Britain and Germany in the talk with  International Poverty Center in Brazil(IPC )

　　March 22, Zhang Lei held a Talk with Mr. Li Miao, Director of WEP Office in China on prospective collaborations.

　　April 11, Zhang Lei and his staff held a talk with Mr. Shahid Khandker Chief Economist of the WBI on how to promote data collection and poverty analysis in East Asia.

　　April 20, Wang Guoliang ang Zhang Lei met with Mr.Johannes F.linn, Executive Director of Wolfensohn Center, research fellow a Booking Research Institute and former Vice President of the World Bank ,to discuss the development directions of both institutions and future collaborations between them.

　　May 22, Liu Jian and Zhang Lei met with Mr. Joachim von Braun, Director General of IFPRI.

　　June 28, Wang Guoliang and Zhang Lei held a talk with Ms.Astrid Skala-kuhmann, representative of GTZ in China on future collaborations.

　　July 18-19, Wang Guoliang ang Zhang Lei headed IPRCC delegation to Britain and Germany for meeting with International Poverty Centre in Brazil(IPC)., DFID and GTZ about collaboration issues.

　　August 4, Zhang Lei met with Ms. Nora Lustig, Director of Poverty Group at UNDP to exchange views on poverty reduction in China and the world, strategic development of IPRCC and collaboration.

　　September 1,Zhang Lei visited Mr.Adrian Davis, Head of DFID in China to talk about future collaboration between the two organizations.

　　October23,Zhang Lei with Mr.Kalman Mizsei, the Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States(CIS) in UNDP to explore the possibility of collection.

　　November 5, Zhang Lei held a meeting with Ms.Alessandra Tisot, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in China and Ms.Sarah Cook, an international expert on poverty reduction to discuss the strategy positioning and development plan for IPRCC.

　　November 10, Zhang Lei talked with Mr.Uwe Wissenbach, counselor of European Commission (EC) for the issues of joint aid to developing countries and EC’s seat in IPRCC Board of Trustees.

　　November 28, Liu Jian and Zhang Lei held a talk with Mr.Khalid   Malik, resident representative of UNDP in China about future development of IPRCC.

　　December 5,Gao Hongbin and Zhang Lei held a talk with Mr.James Adam,World Bank Vice President for Asia and Pacific Region, and David Dollar, World Bank Country Direction for China and Mongolia.

　　Four components of project for Compiling and translating Poverty Reduction L literature in China were compiled and published:

　　<>The Course of Poverty Reduction in China (in both Chinese and English)

　　<>The Evolution of Poverty Reduction Policies in China(in Chinese)

　　<>Selected Cases of Poverty Reduction in China (the first album in Chinese)

　　<>A collection of Poverty Reduction Literature in China (the first album in Chinese)

　　Charter for the International Poverty Reduction in China and Strategic Positioning and Development Plan (2006-2010) for the International Poverty Reduction in China were drafted to clarify the development direction and chief tasks for the center.

　　Three research projects have been achieved：

　　Research on Poverty Reduction in Bordering and Remote Areas of China

　　Research on the Mechanism to Ensure the Availability of Poverty Reduction Loans to Poor Chinese Households

　　Scheme for the Development of Poverty Database for IPRCC

　　Six projects of studies were launched:

　　Overview of Pro-poor Development Policies in China

　　Comparative Studies of Poverty Reduction Modes between China and Africa

　　Overview of  the Progress Made in International Theoretic Research on Poverty Reduction

　　Development of Chinese Private Sectors Related to Poverty Reduction

　　Plans for Research Missions in IPRCC

　　Collection of  Poverty Reduction Literature in China(the second and third albums)

　　The Project of Training Materials for International Training on Poverty Reduction in China(first phase)will come up with the following products:

　　Part 1 of the Training Materials :Overview of Economic and Social Development and Poverty Reduction in China(one volume)

　　Part 2 of the Training Materials: Poverty Reduction Modes in China and Africa(one volume)

　　Part 3 of the Training Materials: Poverty Reduction Modes of Poverty Reduction in China and ASEAN countries(one volume)

　　Part 4 of the Training Materials: Case Studies of Poverty Reduction in China(for training)(one volume)

　　The two collections of conference proceedings Join Hands in Poverty Reduction for a Harmonious East Asia and Poverty Reduction Strategy in the New Millennium: Emerging Issues , Experiences and Lessons have been translated and published.

　　International Poverty Center in Brazil :jointly hosted a workshop for a collaboration issues and signed and signed the Agreement on Collaboration between IPRCC and IPC.

　　Wolfensohn Center at Brookings Research Institute: time-table the schedule of collaboration which stipulated that the coupes and other issues  of collaboration should be fixed within  2007.

　　bdhist Compassion Relief Tzu-Chi Foundation: established mechanism for regular contact and exchange to promote in activities in Chinese Mainland that abide by poverty reduction polices and of the Government.

　　DFTD and GTZ:consulted on the support to capacity building in IPRCC and joint actions to aid other developing countries.

　　Policy Bureau and European Bureau of UNDP: discussed the issues on joint research, training and exchange.

　　International Food Policy Research Institute:decision upon the joint hosting of a large-scaled international poverty reduction seminar on the Fifteenth International Day for the Eradication of Poverty in 2007.

　　World Food Programme: discussed the issues on collaborations in training and exchange.

　　Board of Advisors: ten prestigious scholars or expert, Chinese and international, were recruited to the Board of Advisors to expand the network of collaboration through joint coordination of LGOP and UNDP.

　　Institutional and Staff Development

　　Capacity Building for TPRCC staff

　　The Second Seminar on Poverty Analysis &Date Initiative and Evaluation the Impact of Poverty Reduction Projects and Programs was jointly hosted by IPRCC and WBI. The seminar addressed poverty reduction in China, the design of poverty reduction projects, identification and measurement of poverty indicators, collection and sampling of evaluation date, content and methodology of project evaluation and poverty reduction case studies.

　　On April 10,2006,the Seminar on Poverty Analysis & Data ….. and Evaluating the Impact of Poverty Reduction Projects and Programs jointly hosted by IPRCC and WBI was launched in Beijing. Foreign Capital Project Management Center under LGOP. Jiangxi Provincial Office of Poverty Alleviation and GTZ on-hosted the seminar . Wang Guoliang, Deputy Director of LGOP, Shahid  Khandker, Lead Economist of WBI and Liu Fangyu, Du……Chief of Technical Assistance , International Department of MOF were invited to address the seminar. Zhang Lei, Managing Director of IPRCC chaired the opening ceremony.

　　The seminar was one of the activities specified by the IDF Grant Program. The purpose of IDF Grant is to support and enhance IPRCC capacity in poverty analysis, monitoring and evaluation. The seminar is the second of this type funded by the IDF Grant. It targets IPRCC staff, relevant staff in the MOF . Ministry of Education. National Old Person’ Working Committee, China Disabled Person’ Federation and staff from China Training Center for Executives in Poor Areas and Offices of Poverty Alleviation in 19 provinces(autonomous regions). The training seminar covered such topics as poverty reduction projects. Identification and measurement of poverty indicators, collection and sampling of evaluation data, the content and methodologies of project evaluation and introduction of anti-poverty case studies. The seminar proceeded with various formats like lecturing, case studies and group discussion. Resource person for the seminar include Zhang Lei, Managing Director of IPRCC, Shahid Khandker, Lead Economist of WBI, Wang Yan, Senior Economist of WBI, Celia M. Reyes, Research Fellow of Philippine Institute of Development Studies, Wang Sangui, Research Fellow of Institute of Agricultural Economy and Development, China Academy of Agriculture Sciences and Qiao Xiaochun, Professor of Institute of Demography of School of Economics at Peking University.

　　Jointly hosted the Training Workshop on Poverty Analysis: Measurement and Application in Beijing with the IPC. The workshop addressed the concept of poverty, measurement of poverty, inequality and social welfare, pro-poor growth and etc. Apart from IPRCC staff, the beneficiaries of the workshop came from Beijing University, Tsinghua University, Renmin  University,  China Agricultural University , Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, University of Inner Mongolia, Research Center of Rural Economy at the Ministry of Agricultural, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Regional Development Center of Mountains, Rivers and Lakes of Jiangxi Province.

　　Box:

　　Two of IPRCC staff were dispatched to Thailand from May 28 to June 6 in 2006 for Senior Workshop on Introduction to Poverty Analysis.

　　The workshop was jointly hosted by WBI and National Statistical Official of Thailand, in an aim to enhance the participants’ capability to measure and analyze poverty on the basis of household survey data. The courses included the concept of poverty, panel data,profit and tax rate, monitoring and evaluation, vulnerability and new statistics methodology. The purpose of the courses was to roll out highly-qualified poverty analysis in the areas of poverty. The participants were composed of about 20 statisticians engaged in poverty analysis and household survey of government offices, universities and research institutes in Thailand, Singapore, China, and Laos. The workshop proceeded with the combination of lecturing and hands-on exercises. The resource person was Jonathan Haughton, Associate Professor of Economics in Suffolk University and Senior Economist in Beacon Hill Institute for Public Policy.

　　Learning by doing 

　　IPRCC staff each learnt from the training workshops and international conferences the knowledge and skills of how to organize international events by performing shared missions.

　　IPRCC staff benefited from the opportunities of study or work aboard provided  by international and domestic activities of training and exchanges.

　　Personnel exchange domestic and abroad One of TPRCC staff was sent to IPC as visiting scholar for further study. At the same time, Surah Cook, Research Fellow at Institute of Development Studies of Sussex University, Zhou Weidong, a retired expert from the ADB and Li Xiaoyun, Dean of Humanities and Development College at China Agricultural University as Research Director, visiting scholar and technical expert respectively.

　　Enhance Staff Management

　　The mentality and work style of IPRCC staff were given high importance. The staff grew to be more united, energetic and innovative with a variety of activities organized by the center.

　　Regulations: A complete and effective set of rules and regulations were in place to raise work efficiency.

　　IPRCC monitored the construction by tracking down each step of the process, gave full play to the supervision company, and increased contact and coordination with the developer and the implementer. It has twice passed the examinations of Beijing Golden Award for Great Wall Engineering and won the title of all-excellent construction.

　　IPRCC regarded construction of office building as one of the priorities to ensure the progress, quality and cost-control to be achieved by plan.

　　IPRCC entered negotiations with the developer from time to time to safeguard  IPRCC benefits. The center reported to the NDRC and MOF on time to solicit as much funding for construction as possible. It also abided by the regulations on capital management of construction and spent each cent to its value.

　　The first meeting of bid evaluation and determination for design of interior decoration of IPRCC office building construction project was hosted in strict accordance with the Stipulations for Management of Inviting Tenders and Submitting Tenders, Chen Jiuchang and Wang Shu attended the meeting on behalf of IPRCC.

　　IPRCC drafted and identified the engineering network diagram with the developer and implementer and proceeded with the construction strictly following the diagram. The main structure of IPRCC office building achieved roof sealing on November 28. The ceremony of roof sealing was attended by Liu Jian, Director of LGOP, Gao Hongbin ,Deputy Director of LGOP, Khalid Malik , UNDP resident representative in China,Zhang Lei, Managing Director of  IPRCC and  relevant persons from the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Construction.

　　The year 2006 is the second year of the development of IPRCC in which all the activities are put to performance step by step and financial sources are increased. The financial resources are mainly composed of staff salaries, public expenses, project funds and capital construction funds on the one hand and the donations from relevant international organizations, bilateral institutions and NGOs on the other hand.

　　The aggregate revenue of the center in 2006 is 82, 5303 million yuan, a growth of 88% over 2005, which  can be attributed to five factors: first, the government budge for staff salaries and public expense is increased, compared with the half-year budget in 2005;second, the center expanded its business scopes; third, the center is better in its ability to solicit projects; fourth, the construction of center  office building is underway this year.

　　Government Budgetary Founds

　　The aural government inputs amounted to 5304.4 thousand yuan, including 1303.5 thousand yuan of staff salaries and office operational to 2070 thousand yuan of cost-sharing with UNDP donation and 1930,9 thousand yuan of funds for other projects. As the finance and been controlled by budget management, it was expended as budgeted.

　　Office Construction Founds

　　IPRCC devoted 70 million yuan to the construction of office building in this year which was all spent to the construction of IPRCC office building.

　　Activity founds for the performance of government aids a other countries and collaborations with partners

　　The activity founds totaled 3225.9 thousand yuan, including  1385.9 thousand  yuan from Chinese government external aid funds, 960 thousand yuan from the WB,560 thousand yuan from the ADB, 50thousand yuan from GTZ and 270thousand from IFPRI, all spend on activities.

　　Performance of Program Founds for the Establishment of IPRCC

　　As stipulated by the Program Document on Establishing the International Poverty Reduction Center in China, the total inputs in the launch period should be $6 million, of which the Chinese Government is commissioned with $2 million and UNDP with $4 million(core funds and fund-raising). In 2006 , the program funds were used for 48 projects requiring $600 thousand, and $510 thousand was actually paid by December18(the yearly  closing date of finance), accounting for 82% of the year budget .

　　Chronicle Events

　　Jun 20 The first meeting of IPRCC BOT was convened in Beijing, attended by 12 trustees or representatives of trustees. Mr. Liu J ian chaired the meeting, The meeting concluded with four achievements: discussed and approved the composition scheme of IPRCC BOT , discussion and approved IPRCC Charter(draft),appointed Mr. Zhang Lei as the Managing Director of IPRCC ,and examined IPRCC Report of Work Review in 2005 and Work Plan for 2006.

　　Jan 22 With more than forty rounds of negotiations, IPRCC finally reached agreement with Beijing Jing Guan Poverty Development Company on the construction of IPRCC office building and signed the contract of collaboration.

　　Feb 22 Zhang Lei entered a multi-donor coordination meeting with officials from UNDP, WBI, DFID and CICETE to discussion the strategic positioning and development directions of IPRCC.

　　Feb 27 Liu jian, Director of LGOP, Huang Wei, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Construction and Zhang Lei, Managing Director of IPRCC met with Han Guolong, Chair of Beijing Jing Guan property Development Company and Zheng Qinzhang, General Manager of the Company for the issue of IPRCC office building construction.

　　March 22 The foundation ditch of IPRCC construction project passed the quality examination of Beijing Municipal Construction Commission.

　　April 10-14 The Second Training Workshop on Poverty Analysis &Data Initiative and Evaluating the Impact of Poverty Reduction Project and Programs was jointly hosted by IPRCC and the WBI. The Foreign Capital Project Management Center under LGOP, Office of Poverty Alleviation at Jiangxi Province and GTZ co-hosted the event. Wang Guoliang and Shahid Khandker, Lead Economist of WBI were invited to the workshop and addressed the audience. Zhang Lei chaired the Opening Ceremony and delivered a lecture.

　　April11 Zhang Lei and his staff held a talk with Mr. Shahid Khandker, Lead Economist of the WBI on how to promote data collection and poverty analysis in East Asia.

　　April 13 Si Shujie was appointed Deputy Director of IPRCC.

　　April 20 Wang Guoliang and Zhang Lei met with Mr. Johannes F.Linn, Executive Director of Wolfensohn Center, research fellow at Brookings Research Institute and former vice president of World Bank, to discuss the development directions of both institutions and future collaborations between them.

　　April 27 LiuJian,Wang Guoliang and Zhang Lei held a talk with Mr. Lin Biyu,  Vice CEO at Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation for the collaboration on the construction of IPRCC office building.

　　May 22 Liu Jian, Zhang Lei and Wu Zhong met with Joachim von Braun, Director General of IFPRI.

　　May 23-24 IPRCC and IFPRI jointly organized the International Conference on Poverty Reduction Strategy in the New Millennium: Emerging Issues, Experiences and Lessons. Following the conference, Si Shujie, Deputy Director of IPRCC accompanied the delegation to Gansu Province for studies of local poverty reduction projects.

　　June4 The project of IPRCC office building construction completed the foundation construction and reached ground level.

　　June 8 The International Workshop on Poverty Reduction Policy and Practice in Asian Countries was convened in Beijing, Wang Guoliang  attended and addressed the opening ceremony .Zhang Lei hosted the opening ceremony and delivered a lecture on Review and Prospect of Poverty Reduction in China. The workshop spanned for 15 days, including the courses in Beijing and field trips to Shanxi Province. The workshop was participated by 25 senior government officials from Georgia, Indonesia, Iran, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Vietnam.

　　September 21 IPRCC recruited Ms. Sarah Cook as the Research Director of the center for an employment period from September 2006 to January 2007.

　　September 25-29 The Second ASEAN Plus Three High-level Workshop on Poverty Reduction was convened by IPRCC in Beijing. Many senior government officials engaged in poverty reduction from ASEAN states and China, Japan and Korea presented at the workshop. The workshop was also participated by observers from some relevant international organizations. Hui Liangyu, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese Vice Premier presented and addressed the workshop. The LGOP released the Beijing Proposal of the Second ASEAN plus Three High-level Workshop on Poverty Reduction. From September 26 to 29, Zhang Lei, Wu Zhong and Si Shujie accompanied the delegation to Guangxi and Yunnan Provinces for studies of local poverty reduction projects.

　　October 10-16 IPRCC jointly hosted the Training Workshop on Poverty Analysis and Pro-Poor Growth in Beijing with the IPC.

　　October 17-26 The Poverty Reduction Seminar for Developing Countries at Ministerial Level was hosted by IPRCC in Beijing, which was attended by twenty representatives from sixteen countries including Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Turkey, Mozambique, Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa, Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador, Cuba, Mexico and Fiji, among which there are three ministers, four vice ministers, nine director generals and four assistants. Gao Hongbin chaird the opening ceremony. Liu Jian delivered the opining speech and lecture on Policy and Pratice of Poverty Reduction in China. Zhang Lei accompanied the foreign participants to Jiangsu and Shaanxi Provinces for study of local poverty reduction projects.

　　October 23 Zhang Lei met with Kalman Mizsei, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS and discussed issues of collaboration.

　　November 4 IPRCC dispatched its representatives to Beijing Summit of the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation.

　　November 5 Zhang Lei met with Alessandra Tisot, Deputy Representative of UNDP in China and Sarah Cook, International Expert on Poverty Reduction to discuss the issues of strategic positioning and development plan of IPRCC.

　　November 26 IPRCC project of office building construction passed the second examination of Beijing Golden Award for Great Wall Engineering delivered by relevant agencies of Beijing Municipality.

　　November 28 IPRCC construction project achieved the roof-sealing of main structure. Zhang Lei hosted the roof-sealing ceremony, Liu Jian, Gao Hongbin, Khalid Malik and relevant representatives from MOFCOM, Ministry of Construction, MOF and the agencies of project consultation, design, implementation and supervision attended the ceremony.

　　November 28 Liu Jian, Khalid Malik, Zhang Lei, Wang Yue, Wu Zhong and Hou Xin’an held a talk about the future development of IPRCC.

　　November 28-December 3 Si Shujie headed the delegation to Thailand for the Third Meeting of the ESCAP Social Poverty Reduction Committee.

　　December 1 Preparatory Team of International Workshop on Focus on Poverty and Make Actions convened its first meeting, chaired by Zhang Lei.

　　December 5 Gao Hongbin, Zhang Lei and Wu Zhong met with James Adam, Vice President of World Bank Asian and Pacific Regin.

　　December 17 Zhang Lei met with Rainer Goerdeler, Director of Asian Department of German Federal Economic Cooperation and Development Ministry and explored the possibility of carrying out collaboration.

　　On May 24, 25 and June 1 CHINA DAILY, Farmers’ Daily, and Guangming Daily respectively released news about the International Conference on Poverty Reduction Strategy under the New Millennium: Emerging Issues, Experiences and Lessons in the titles of Campaign to aid country’s poorest, More than a Hundred International Experts Gathered in Beijing Discussing Poverty Reduction Strategy in the New Millennium and the Notable Effects of Poverty Reduction in China.

　　June 11 Guangming Daily released the news about the Workshop on Poverty Reduction Policy and Practice for Asian Countries under the title of International Poverty Reduction Center in China Hosted the Poverty Reduction Workshop.

　　June 22 CHINA DAILY released the news on the interview with Zhang Lei under the title of Experience in poverty reduction to be shared as the headline of the newspaper.

　　July 6 CHINA DAILY released the news on the Workshop on Poverty Reduction Policy and Practice for African Countries in the title of African officials begin anti- poverty course.

　　August 8 Youth Reference released in whole section an interview with Zhang Lei under the title of Government Officials from Asia, Africa and Latin America Coming to China for Training­­­­—An Interview with Zhang Lei, Managing Director of IPRCC.

　　September 25 Xinhua News Agency released the news on the Second ASEAN plus Three High-level Workshop on Poverty Reduction under that title of the Second ASEAN plus Three High-level Workshop on Poverty Reduction hosted in Beijing, Hui Liangyu Presented at and Addressed the Workshop on behalf of Chinese Government. It was reported that Hui Liangyu stated that apart from addressing its domestic poverty, the Chinese Government are also active in supporting the poverty reduction efforts in Asian and the globe; China would further enhance exchange and collaboration with developing countries in poor reduction and increase development assistance to poor countries within its capability boundaries; The Chinese Government supports IPRCC to be an important platform for exchange and collaboration with the international community, especially Asia.

　　September 25 The China Xinhua News Agency released the news about the Second ASEAN plus Three High-level Workshop on Poverty Reduction under that title of China Proposing the Collaboration between ASEAN and China, Japan and Korea to Help 2/3 of Global Poor and China calls for stronger cooperation of ASEAN plus three on poverty reduction.

　　September 25 CCTV News Broadcasting, Phoenix TV Voice of Vietnam broadcast respectively the Convening of the Second ASEAN Plus Three High-level Workshop on Poverty Reduction in Beijing and China Hosted the Second ASEAN plus Three High-level Workshop on Poverty Reduction.

　　September 26 People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, Guangming Daily, and CHINA DAILY covered the Second ASEAN plus Three High-level Workshop on Poverty Reduction under the titles of the Second ASEAN plus Three High-level Workshop on Poverty Reduction hosted in Beijing, Hui Liangyu Presented at and Addressed the Workshop on behalf of Chinese Government, Figures and Events of Poverty Reduction in China over the Past Two Decades, and Beijing Affirms Commitment to its Role in Worldwide Poverty- Reduction.

　　October 17 Xinhua News Agency released the news about the Poverty Reduction Seminar for Developing Countries at Ministerial Level under the title of China Will Help Other Developing Countries to Eliminate Poverty. It was reported that Liu Jian, Director of LGOP stated that China would carry out training, exchange and collaborations and pilots of poverty reduction through IPRCC and other related agencies to help other developing countries with local poverty reduction.

　　October 17 Xinhua News Agency released the news about the Poverty Reduction Seminar for Developing Countries at Ministerial Level under the title of China is Aspiring for Reshaping the 140 thousand Poor Villages by 2010, China is Aiming at Reshaping the 148 thousand Poor Villages within the Next Five Years, and 100 million poor in rural China lifted out of poverty in 20 years.

　　October 17 China Radio International and Associated Press of Pakistan(APP) released the news about the Poverty Reduction Seminar for Developing Countries at Ministerial Level under the title of China is Willing to Cooperation with Developing Countries on Poverty Reduction,  China will Continue to Share with other Developing Countries its Experiences of Poverty Reduction, and China poverty (seminar) 4-pronged strategy to be implemented for poverty reduction—Mushtaq Malik repectively.

　　October 18 People’s Daily released news about the Poverty Reduction Seminar for Developing Countries at Ministerial Level under the title of Chinese Government Taking Three Measures to Support Developing Countries Against Poverty. It was reported that that day was the Fourteenth Day for International Eradication of Poverty identified by the United Nations, in the Poverty Reduction Seminar for Developing Countries at Ministerial Level, Liu Jian, Director of LGOP, announced that the Chinese Government would make use of IPRCC as platform and support developing countries with three measures: first, provide capacity building for those governments in terms of poverty reduction policy design and execution; second, provide an effective platform for the exchange and collaboration of poverty reduction among developing countries by organizing forums, seminars and giving chances for their government officials to study poverty reduction in China; and third, provide technical assistance, demonstration of pilots of poverty reduction projects and thus help these countries design and implement poverty reduction projects.

　　October 18, 20 and 31 CHINA DAILY, Guangming Daily, and Radio France International (RFI) released news about the Poverty Reduction Seminars for Developing Countries at Ministerial Level under the titles of Poverty alleviation goals set for 2010, China Will Support Developing Countries with Their Local Poverty Reduction in Three Aspects, and Reportage formation des functionaries africains en Chine.

　　December 7 Guangming Daily released the news about the roof-sealing ceremony of IPRCC is Devote to Promoting International Poverty Reduction.

　　In 2006, there were twelve media organizations at home and abroad that gave 30 pieces of news about IPRCC and the events organized by IPRCC, of which eight are Chinese medias, namely, Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily, Guangming Daily, CCTV,CHINA DAILY, China Radio International, Youth Reference, Farmers’ Daily, and four are medias from Hong Kong and others countries, namely, Phoenix TV, VOV, APP and RFI.

　　Letter and Comments

　　To the direct

　　China international poverty reduction centre

　　From Zambian delegation

　　Re: poverty Policy and Practice Workshop during 5—19 July 2006

　　We write to express our gratitude and sincere appreciation for having invited our country Zambia to participate in the workshop. Our experiences and impressions of the workshop and China are positive and unforgettable.

　　Our impressions is that China is a vigorous society which harbors a certain extravagance of objectives which are achieved through its achievement, China has the spirit and moral fiber necessary for its advancement in social and economic development. It has an apparent inner strength which is so necessary to progress towards prosperity. The country through its resources, skills and organizing capacity continues to make constant endeavors. To not only rescue poverty levels but raise the overall quality of life of its people.

　　It is our view that the Chinese government has been far sighted by adopting an attitude of reserve popular and fashionable ideologies. China clearly understands that poverty and underdevelopment cannot be aspirations and slogans. Neither can it be solve by purblind ideologies or by opaque ignorance masquerading as progressive politics. Poverty reduction and sustained development can only be achieved through realistic and pragmatic economic policies which harness the reservoir of its people’s faith, energy and enterprise.

　　China has attained a sustained level of increased production all round. Industrial peace and cheap labor have lead to fast economic growth in turn has enabled the government to achieve some high level of social justice.

　　Specifically we are very impressed by:

　　1)    High level of decentralization

　　2)    The availability and participation of government structures at all levels

　　3)    The government commitment to poverty reduction programme

　　4)    Extensive community participation in the programmes

　　5)    A culture of hard work through community efforts

　　6)    A good micro-credit finance schedule which is friendly and flexible

　　7)    Detailed data base on population and poor communities

　　8)    Good provision for infrastructure development

　　9)    A viable provision for marketing rural produce at fair pries

10)  Well targeted programmes

11)  High levels of accountability at all levels

12)  Effective monitoring and evaluation system which are result oriented

13)  Good education system

14)  Population control and monitoring

15)  The Chinese efforts are a positive indication of their commitment to                  help Africa reduce its poverty levels

　　Litia Charles Mutemwa

　　The Office of Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, 1034 Krung Kasem Rd., Bangkok 10100 Tel. 6623068724 Fax 6623068718

　　October B.E.2549 (2006)

　　Dear Mr. Liu Jian,

　　It is with great pleasure that I recall my arrival to Beijing and Guangxi province to participate in the Second ASEAN plus Three High-Level Workshop on Poverty Reduction on 25-29 September 2006.

　　I wish to convey our sincere thanks and gratitude to you and your colleagues for the kind cooperation and warm hospitality extended to me and my staff throughout the Workshop. We found this Workshop the most enjoyable and instructive one as we learned a lot from other ASEAN plus three countries especially from China’s experience in relation to poverty reduction.

　　I do hope you may find it possible in the near future to pay a visit to Bangkok. In particular, I wish you would be able to participate in the first ASEAN plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication to be held in Bangkok in late January next year.

　　Yours sincerely,

　　(Mrs. Kanda Vajrabhaya)

　　Deputy Permanent Secretary

　　Mr. Liu Jian,

　　Director of LGOP,

　　No. 11, Nongzhanguan Nanli,

　　Beijing, 100026, China.

　　Bogota, D.C., November 1st, 2006

　　Mister

　　Zhang Lei

　　Managing Director

　　International Poverty Center in China

　　Beijing

　　Dear Mister Lei:

　　I would like to express to you my deepest sentiments of gratitude for the invitation that your Government passed us and our participation, among with delegates form 16 countries, in the poverty Reduction Seminar for Developing Countries at Ministerial Level that took place last October, hosted by the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development and Ministry of Commerce; and organized by the International Poverty Reduction Center in China.

　　In this seminar, we acknowledged the importance of coming several elements such as sustained and sustainable economic growth and the best use of scientific and technological advances. But above all, the need for a focused effort in the weakest sectors of the population to break the traps that keep them in poverty, by promoting co-responsibility and empowering the community.

　　Aside from allowing us to get to know the experience of the People’s Republic of China with its policies for economic, social and agrarian development, as well as policies and practices for poverty eradication; thanks to the effort and special attention of all the Chinese Staff and people, we had the valuable opportunity to make field visits and exchange experiences from participating continues to examine possibilities for cooperation taking into account the historical evidence of the importance and need of horizontal cooperation.

　　We have already started to analyze future actions in this direction to maintain a permanent collaboration and exchange of experiences. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your support to the people of Colombia and hope to continue strengthen our friendly relationship.

　　Sincerely,

　　Luis Alfonso Hoyos Aristizabal

　　High Presidential Advisor for Social Action and International Cooperation

　　Director,

　　International Poverty Reduction Centre in China,

　　No.12, Noingzhanguannanli Road,

　　Chaoyang District,

　　Beijing 100026

　　Dear Sir,

　　APRCC Seminar on Poverty Alleviation in Developing Countries

　　I have just returned to Sri Lanka having participated in a very fruitful seminar on Poverty Alleviation and having the roughly enjoyed unparallel Chinese hospitality for over two weeks in your great and beautiful country.

　　The knowledge gathered at this seminar will be of immense benefit to fulfill the mandate of my Ministry of Samadhi and Poverty Alleviation in general and in particular to me in planning and implementing proposals in keeping with the present trends to handle poverty reduction in developing countries like Sri Lanka, Proceedings of the seminar and field visits to relevant sites of interest, combined with sight-seeing were professionally organized and well received and appreciated by all the participants. On behalf the Government of Sri Lanka I convey our grateful thanks for organizing this most appropriate and timely seminar to deal with a most pressing problem in our country.

　　I will be failing in my duty if I do not mention the most efficient and appreciative manner in which the whole affair was conducts by Ms. Yetao Deng (Nancy) and her colleagues while making our stay in China a pleasant and memorable one. It was no easy task for her to attend to the needs of the representatives from fifteen countries who were inquisitive and knowledge-hungry, combined with the desire to see the country as well. She readily responded and magnificently succeeded.

　　With kind regards,

　　Yours sincerely,

　　W.K.K.Kumarasiri

　　Secretary.

　　W.K.K.KUMARASIRI

　　Ms. Yetao Deng (Nancy)-for your kind information with grateful thanks. I congratulate you and your colleagues on a job well done.

　　Ms.Mi Liqin Second Sceretary. Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, for your kind information with grateful thanks for all courteous arrangements at this end.

　　Under the leadership of the Board of Trustees and to achieve the goal of contributing to the worldwide poverty reduction, IPRCC will work in the following aspects according to its positioned functions and development plan between 2006 and 2010:

　　Improve the institutional and staff capability.

　　Enhance the effectiveness and the reputation of training.

　　Expand the scope of exchange and the extension of influence.

　　Organize applied research and a platform for research.

　　Develop partnership and a network of support.

　　Increase exchange and coordination and expand scope for development.

　　Member Agencies of Board of Trustees (BOT)

　　Chinese government Departments

　　State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and development (LGOP)

　　Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM)

　　Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)

　　International Organization and Bilateral Institutions

　　United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

　　World Bank

　　Asian Development Bank (ADB)

　　UK Department for International Development (DFID)

　　Non-Government Organizations

　　Chinese Association for International Understanding