Xi calls for advancing world poverty alleviation process

Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, reads out a letter of congratulations sent from President Xi Jinping, and delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the International Forum on Sharing Poverty Reduction Experience in Beijing, Dec 14, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

China stands ready to work with all countries in promoting the process of international poverty reduction and building a community with a shared future for mankind, President Xi Jinping said on Monday.

In a message to the International Forum on Sharing Poverty Reduction Experience, which opened on Monday in Beijing, Xi called on participants to deepen exchanges of poverty reduction experience, build broad consensus and boost confidence so as to contribute wisdom and strength to accelerating the international poverty alleviation process.

Poverty elimination is a dream shared by all people, he said, noting that poverty reduction efforts still face severe challenges as the COVID-19 pandemic rages globally.

The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government have been striving through arduous, long-term efforts toward the goal of making sure the Chinese people have a good life, Xi said.

In an initiative based on previous efforts, China launched in 2012 a comprehensive poverty relief battle that was the world's biggest and most challenging.

Through eight years of sustained work, the country has lifted its entire population of rural impoverished residents, under the current income standard, out of poverty, Xi said.

China has now removed all poor counties from its poverty list, and nearly 100 million poor people in rural areas have been lifted out of poverty, he said, calling it a major contribution to global poverty reduction work.

The president pledged that China will continue to advance its poverty alleviation achievements, make more substantial progress in common prosperity for everyone, and improve people's livelihoods.

A new study published by the United Nations Development Programme in December found that an additional 207 million people worldwide could be pushed into extreme poverty by 2030, due to the severe long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic, bringing the total number to over 1 billion.