Africa -China Review Africa -China Cooperation and Transformation
Published: July 20,2023
By Staff writer.
African countries can be able to overcome poverty by borrowing a leaf from the success story of China, scholars and experts said, during a one day webinarconvened by Africa-China Review, under the theme: Can China’s experience of Poverty Alleviation work for Africa? The seminar that took place on Wednesday brought together academics, experts, researchers, and private sector and media professionals from Africa, China and Kyrgyzstan.
The Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda H.E Wang Xuekun highlighted various cooperation engagements between China and Rwanda including bilateral trade where Rwanda coffee and Chilli have accessed China markets. He also mentioned that there are a lot of fields that China and Rwanda can work together in to ensure that poverty alleviation is handled, like education, infrastructure, as well as medicine. Ambassador Wang welcomed willing countries to join to join the Global Development Initiative (GDI) proposed by China. China is not developing alone but wants to share the development journey with other countries.
African participants appreciated the development oriented projects between China and their countries, like infrastructure, agriculture and industry that have contributed to poverty alleviation and job creation. The Guest of honour Ambassador Zeno Mutimuraappreciated the historical friendship between China and Africa and the Chinese leadership based on culture as well as the hard working nature of the Chinese people.
Mr. Mubarak Mugabo from Uganda mentioned the 55.5Kms Entebbe Kampala express Highway that reduced travel time between Entebbe and Kampalafrom to only 40 minutes, which has saved both time and money for Ugandans. Dr. Adhere Cavince from Kenya highlighted the economic importance of theChina- Kenya cooperation projects like Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) that connects the large Indian Ocean city of Mombasa with Nairobi, cooperation in the IT sector, E-Commerce and students exchange programs that enhance capacity building.
Prof. Xia Qingjie from the school of economics at Peking University presented China’s successful poverty alleviation method; citing reasons like successful industrialization, the trickle-down effect, and rural to urban migration as the main reasons for China’s sharp decline in the poverty rates. Prof. Xia further observes that for countries to effectively alleviate poverty, certain crucial pre-conditions must be met: robust central planning, effective state-owned enterprises (SOEs), well-functioning market economies, and substantial investment in the health and education sectors.
Professor Chuanhong Zhang from China Agricultural University shared her experience of small projects that were implemented in Tanzania but made a very big difference in increasing crop yields and feeding the population. “A tailored approach to poverty reduction embedded with China experience works better for African countries, Professor Zhang said.
Mr. Jin Songbao First Secretary, Captain of resident work Team in Wujiazhai village, Jinping County, Yunnan Province shared his two years’ experience of working with rural resident on poverty alleviation. He highlighted the concept “three guarantees” (safe housing, healthcare, and education) and “two assurances” (being fed and being clothed) which became a policy through the Communist Party of China’s poverty alleviation program.
Mr. Gui Tao, The Director of Local News Desk, Department of News for Overseas service, Xinhua News Agency explained the role of Xinhua News Agency in educating and informing the audience on important aspects of poverty alleviation.
Ms. Li Xin, Deputy Director General of the International Poverty Reduction Center in China talked about China’s Policy and Experience on Poverty Reduction, as well as China’s International Cooperation with African countries on poverty reduction. She mentioned that over the course of poverty alleviation, the Chinese government has steadily increased funding to meet the challenge. Investments from the central, provincial, city and county governments have totaled nearly RMB 1.6 trillion including RMB 660.1billion from the central budget. Lin further mentioned that China has supported other developing countries in poverty alleviation, by launching international poverty alleviation cooperation projects for the benefit of all.
China pursues a People-centred development philosophy, leverages political advantages and pools resources to accomplish major tasks and more important, allows the poor people to play the principal role in the poverty reduction process, Li Xin said.
