Qu Sixi: Enhance South-South Cooperation for Innovative Poverty Reduction

Qu Sixi, Representative of World Food Program China Office

Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

I would like to first extend my sincere congratulations on the seminar on Global Poverty Reduction Partnership. WFP is happy to join this celebration for China’s achievements on national poverty reduction and the discussion about global partnership enhancement. 

As the largest humanitarian UN agency, WFP has been in accompany with China’s development for more than 40 years. Along with other four UN agencies who entered into China at the very scratch of China’s opening and reform, WFP has been the historical witness, active participant and faithful contributor for China’s development and prosperity. WFP provided 70 large-scale grant development projects for agricultural and rural development in China. Gansu used to be one of the prioritized provinces for large-scale projects. Now we continue our support in Dingxi and Linxia for zink-rich potato pilot production and nutrition improvement. 

I personally experienced the upheaval changes of poverty reduction across the whole country. Today, I am so proud to see that China has achieved the great course of eradicating absolute poverty, which is such a great encouragement for developing world by setting a brilliant model for global development agenda. 

Dear colleagues,

 We are grateful to be able to have this opportunity, to convene today for this discussion on poverty reduction. At present, most countries in the world are still plagued with COVID-19, while China has almost returned to normal life thanks to effective containment of the virus. This, once again demonstrates that, China has her own solutions in front of challenges.  

Even though, hunger and poverty are both the biggest challenges confronting us worldwide. Zero hunger is our common pursuit, which is closely linked to poverty alleviation. However, global food security has been facing threats in recent years. According to the 2020 Food Security and Nutrition Report published by WFP, FAO, and other UN agencies, since 2014, the hunger population has increased by more than 10 million every year. The outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 has rapidly raged over the world. If no action taken, it is estimated that the pandemic could turn more than 130 million people back to hunger. It affects not only the health of the world population but also agriculture and food system. It may aggravate the current situation by devastating livelihoods and food security, particularly in fragile contexts and for the most vulnerable. The way towards Sustainable Development Goals, is still long to run.  

Colleagues & Friends, 

WFP China is working as a Centre of Excellence for Rural Transformation. In collaboration with Chinese and other global partners, we aim to share China’s valuable experience and expertise in poverty alleviation, food security and nutrition improvement, to provide efficient support for developing countries. We focus on four major areas, namely, smallholder value chain development, post-harvest loss management, disaster risk reduction and climate change resilience, as well as innovative poverty reduction initiatives. 

Currently, digitalized technology demonstrates an important role for South-South Cooperation by providing access to expertise, know-how, and technical guidance to policymakers, technicians, and farmers in developing countries through innovative ways such as webinars, virtual study tours, data applications, e-trade, knowledge sharing platform, and online markets, etc. WFP China Centre of Excellence boldly becomes the pioneer to pilot these innovative practices. Since June this year, WFP has successfully organized 12 webinars on e-commerce for value chain development, post-harvest loss management, disaster risk reduction and other themes in collaboration with Chinese ministries and technical partners. The webinars have reached a broad coverage of more than 1700 participants from over 40 developing countries. 

China’s experience in e-commerce is a strong example of how smart solutions could serve poverty reduction and rural transformation. E-commerce helps farmers to tap into markets with on-line platforms and promote the development of the rural value chain. WFP has been actively exploring partnership with Rural Taobao, Ali-Reserach and Kuaishou for smallholder support through rural e-commerce development both in China and Africa. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Digitalized solutions could present and exchange on different models of good practices, share lessons learned and provide opportunities for smallholder farmers, and strengthen the capacity of stakeholders through digital solutions. 

In 2020, WFP has the honour to be the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, which is not only owned to us, but to all our partners. Zero hunger as well as Partnership still have been the targeted Sustainable Development Goals for WFP. Poverty is quite a comprehensive challenge, and hunger always be the serious concern shared by all. Eliminating hunger will contribute to the world poverty reduction. Meanwhile, global partnership should play the significant and necessary role to facilitate the process. 

On our journey to zero hunger and poverty alleviation, we are willing to strengthen collaboration with all partners, wishing to join hands for the construction of Human Destiny with a shared future and attainment of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. 

Finally, I wish you all a good health and enjoyable life. 

Thank you!