Belt and Road vehicle for African poverty reduction

The FOCAC Africa-China Poverty Reduction and Development Conference, a forum hosted by the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP) under the framework of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), underpinned the importance of poverty reduction and alleviation on Aug. 14, 2018, in Beijing.

With the theme "'Belt and Road' and China-Africa Poverty Reduction Cooperation", more than 300 government officials, scholars, entrepreneurs and international organizations' officers from China, the United States, Japan, Denmark and 40 African countries participated in the discussions regarding China-African cooperation opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative and the role of social engagement under the framework of Africa-China poverty reduction cooperation.

"Over the past five years, the Belt and Road Initiative is developing from a vision to a reality. Over 100 countries and international organizations, including African countries, have participated in it," Minister Liu Yongfu said in his opening remarks. "The Belt and Road Initiative takes infrastructure connectivity and capacity cooperation as the main cooperation areas, which fit in with the goals of Africa's Agenda 2063."

Madam Sacko said that, "Through the AU and China's Cooperation in the Rural Economy and Agricultural Development, there has been technolgy transfers, enhanced human capacity through exchange visits of African experts to china, and technical assistance from China covering crop planting, pest/disease prevention and control, agricultural product processing, livestock breeding and fish farming."

A closing ceremony moderated by Director General Zuo Changsheng of the International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC) was held after the discussions. Vice Minister Chen Zhigang of the LGOP concluded the conference.

The delegates will go on a study tour to Bijie, Guizhou Province, China, between Aug. 15 and 16, 2018. They will visit poverty reduction projects encompassing infrastructure and industrial development, ecological resettlement and tourism, and vocational training.