Yunnan pushes ahead with cooperation with Mekong countries in poverty relief

Yunnan, as China’s pioneering province in poverty-reduction cooperation with the neighboring Mekong countries, has done a good job in aiding Myanmar in technologies for economic growth, while sharing its poverty-reduction experiences with other Mekong countries. A Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) seminar, which was held in Kunming on March 21, stated.

Undertaken by the International Poverty Reduction Center in Yunnan (IPRCY), the “China’s technical assistance to Myanmar” project is one of the 100 poverty-reduction projects proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Highlevel Roundtable on South-South Cooperation. This project focuses on the build-up of rural infrastructures, public services, livelihood improvement, capacity enhancement, and rural management in accordance with local conditions.

At present, the project has been officially launched. Yunnan has set up a joint project-management office with Myanmar’s related departments and sent work teams to Myanmar to introduce Yunnan’s successful poverty-reduction experience and practices in Myanmar, so as to increase the poverty-reduction capabilities of the relevant Myanmar departments.

Moreover, Yunnan has given full play to its location advantages in international poverty alleviation, cooperating with other Mekong countries in developing superior industries, breeding new crop varieties, training agricultural technicians and trading agricultural products.

While exporting its new agricultural technologies and new crop varieties to the Mekong countries, Yunnan also invited in agricultural professionals of the neighboring countries to attend training sessions on Chinese agricultural technologies.

Through implementing a wide range of projects and practical poverty reduction based on agricultural cooperation, the border areas along the Mekong River has seen steady economic and social progress, with social stability enhanced, cross-border drug trafficking eliminated and the income of local farmers increased.

In the future, Yunnan will continue its leading role in international cooperation on poverty reduction, reinforce the traditional friendship with the Mekong countries, increase economic activities and personnel exchanges, and deepen cooperation in poverty reduction.

Also, the province will further explore new ideas, new mechanisms, and new approaches in poverty reduction and will serve as a bridge for poverty alleviation, so as to better share with the Mekong countries the achievements of China's economic and social development.

Reporting by Hu Xiaorong; trans-editing by Wang Shixue