China Partners up with Africa for Industrial Co-op and Poverty Reduction

Over 150 professionals from the government, the business community, non-governmental organizations and international organizations gathered in Shanghai on September 20th for the Africa-China Poverty Reduction and Development Conference to enhance knowledge sharing on poverty reduction and explore new ways to further industrial cooperation.

The meeting, titled "Africa-China Productive Capacity Co-operation and Poverty Reduction", is a new sub-forum of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

Hong Tianyun, Deputy Director of China's State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development of China (LGOP), delivered a speech at the event in which he emphasized that China needs to attach greater importance to poverty-reduction cooperation with other developing countries, especially African ones, while it also strives to eradicate poverty at home by 2020.

"Last year, China pledged to set up a fund, with an initial contribution of 2 billion dollars, to support South-South cooperation and assist developing countries in the implementation of their post-2015 development agenda. In the next 5 years, China will fund more projects focused on environmental protection, agricultural cooperation as well as poverty reduction," said Hong.

"Progress on extreme poverty in Africa will depend on rapid, sustained and inclusive economic growth, which can only be achieved on the basis of capable institutions,”" believed Prithvirajsing Roopun, the Mauritian Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment, adding that other countries, especially China, could contribute abundant natural and human resources for the rapid take off of industrialization in Africa.

"In view of its pragmatic approach, flexibility to adapt its policies, and its advanced technology, skills and capital, China has the full capability to make a positive impact in the socio-economic transformation of Africa," he confirmed.

Treasure Maphanga, Director of Trade and Industry at the Africa Union Commission (AUC), pointed out that the theme of the conference was in line with the outcome of the 2015 6th FOCAC subsumed in the Johannesburg Action Plan, which identified industrial cooperation as an imperative to ensure Africa's independent and sustainable development.

"Africa can learn from China in terms of its success in poverty reduction and industrial development. It is very important to look at other regions of the world to see how industrialization can significantly contribute to growth, development and better livelihoods for millions of African people," she noted.

The conference was co-hosted by the LGOP and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government. Jointly organized by International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC) and the Cooperation and Communication Office of Shanghai Municipal People's Government, the event also won the support of the African Union, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the China-Africa Development Fund (CADF).