Seminar on Poverty Alleviation & Development for South Asian Countries Kicks Off in Chongqing

On the morning of December 16, the opening ceremony of the Seminar on Poverty Alleviation and Development for South Asian Countries of China-South Asian Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Center was held at Southwest University in Chongqing. It was sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and co-organized by Southwest University, Chongqing Rural Revitalization Bureau, and the Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government. The attendees included Chen Song, Deputy Director at the Department of Asian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (online), You Xianyong, Deputy Secretary-General of Chongqing Municipal People's Government, Wang Wen, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government, Li Xufeng, Secretary of the CPC Committee of Southwest University, Wang Shijie, Deputy Director-General of Chongqing Rural Revitalization Bureau, Mei Yujun, Deputy Mayor of Beibei District People's Government, and Zhao Guohua, Vice President of Southwest University.

In his speech, Chen Song said that China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh are good neighbors who have developed harmonious and friendly relations, good partners who have worked hand in hand, and good comrades who have stood together in success and adversity. The joint construction of the Belt and Road is the largest platform for international cooperation globally. China has continuously deepened the docking of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with the Belt and Road Initiative to create a new engine for poverty reduction and development. 

On behalf of the Chongqing Municipal People's Government, You Xianyong congratulated the successful opening of the Seminar and expressed gratitude to those who care about and support the China-South Asian Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Center. He briefed on the work of poverty alleviation in Chongqing and announced the opening of the Seminar.

With the theme of "national poverty alleviation and development," the Seminar introduces China's practices and experience in eradicating absolute poverty and rural revitalization to officials from relevant departments in development, poverty alleviation, agriculture, economy, and international cooperation of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It also shares China's experience in poverty alleviation and development, showcases the results of coordinated rural economic and social development, explores and improves ways and means to overcome poverty and modernize rural development in South Asian countries. The Seminar is held online from December 15 to 24.