International Forum on Poverty Governance and Global Development Held in Nujiang, Yunnan

The 2023 International Forum on Poverty Governance and Global Development (IFPGD) kicked off in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, southwestern China’s Yunnan Province on March 19. More than 190 diplomats, officials, experts, and scholars from 20 countries and four international organizations attended the forum, themed on “New Blueprint for Rural Revitalization, Exciting Opportunities for Global Development.” Participants exchanged views on global modernization and sustainable development, including poverty governance and rural development.

Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group (CICG), said in his speech that in the new journey of promoting Chinese-style modernization, China will join hands with other countries to consolidate consensus on development, and create the greatest energy for poverty alleviation and governance under the framework of the Global Development Initiative (GDI).

“I think one important lesson we can learn from China is the ability to target anti-poverty policies to specific areas and specific sectors implemented in a decentralized way,” said former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva via video link. “The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is important to connect remote and rural areas to economic opportunities.”

The extraordinary journey of Nujiang from poverty alleviation to rural revitalization reflects China’s pursuit of common prosperity for all people, remarked Liu Yongfu, member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, former secretary of the Party Leadership Group and director of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development .

Guo Weimin, head of the China Public Relations Association and former vice minister of the State Council Information Office, said that he hopes guests would continue to follow China’s rural development, visit more places to see the country’s remarkable changes and share their thoughts with the world.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said via video link that Pakistan wishes to promote high-quality BRI cooperation with China through improving transport connectivity, jointly building industrial parks, creating more jobs and addressing poverty with industrial development.

Na Yunde, vice governor and member of the Party Leadership Group of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, said that he expected Chinese and foreign guests to discuss and seek best solutions to rural development, injecting energy into rural modernization.

Uruguay’s ambassador to China Fernando Lugris said that this year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Uruguay and China and the two countries will continue to work together for global poverty reduction and development, creating new opportunities for building a peaceful and prosperous world.

In his speech, CICG Vice President Yu Tao noted that China is not only dedicated to achieving the modernization of common prosperity for all people, but also contributes to the cause of global poverty reduction and development through practical actions.

Wang Haihuai, deputy secretary of the CPC Committee and general manager of China Communications Construction Co., Ltd. (CCCC), said that CCCC looks forward to working with all parties to build beautiful, livable villages featuring ecological, economic, and social sustainability, and help farmers live a prosperous and happy life. 

Qu Sixi, representative and country director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in China, said that the WFP expects to strengthen cooperation with China and other countries to make greater contributions to building a world free from hunger and poverty.

Ye Kangtao, vice president and member of the Standing Committee of CPC Committee of the Renmin University of China (RUC), said that the RUC will further deepen collaboration with enterprises and research institutions, and make breakthroughs in the fields of poverty alleviation, rural revitalization, and common prosperity.

Hong Weizhi, secretary of the CPC Nujiang Prefectural Committee, said that the prefecture is setting an example in consolidating poverty alleviation achievements and aligning them with rural revitalization by cultivating characteristic industries, promoting ecological development and building prosperous, harmonious and livable villages.

Seinn Lei Tun, deputy consul general of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar in Kunming, remarked that poverty governance is an essential part in Myanmar-China friendly cooperation in which China provides development capital and agricultural technology training and shares experience in poverty relief to help Myanmar achieve inclusive growth and improve local livelihood.

At the opening ceremony, the report From Poverty Elimination to Rural Revitalization: China’s Practice and Its Global Relevance was released by Yu Yunquan, president of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS). It uses the “DREAM” model to summarize experience of China’s poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, namely, dynamic poverty prevention, rural industry support, east-west paired assistance, assimilation of relocated residents, and modernization of rural governance.

The opening ceremony also witnessed the launch of the research project “Digital Technology Empowering High-Quality Growth in Nujiang, Yunnan.” Yang Chunyan, secretary-general of the China Internet Development Foundation, said that the cooperation project is designed to expand the technological space in rural development, assist in the building of “Digital Nujiang,” and promote rural revitalization and high-quality growth.

Jiang Yonggang, president of the CICG Center for Europe and Asia (China Pictorial Publications), presided over the forum. Representatives from Shanghai’s paired assistance team as well as enterprises like Ping An and Yili shared best practices and experiences in helping Nujiang out of poverty. Guests said that they expect China to promote international development and cooperation underpinned by the BRI and the GDI, creating more positive energy for global prosperity and stability.

The IFPGD was jointly hosted by CICG, the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, China Public Relations Association, and the RUC, and organized by the ACCWS, CICG Center for Europe and Asia (China Pictorial Publications), the Information Office of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, the Foreign Affairs Office of  the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, the Administration for Rural Revitalization of Yunnan Province, and the People’s Government of Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture. Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions, China Internet Development Foundation, China Internet Information Center, and Yunnan International Communication Center for South and Southeast Asia also contributed to the forum.